Bedtime Nettings

Our bedtime routine is probably very similar to a lot of people back in the States.  Starting just after dinner, we bathe the kids, put on their jammies, tuck in the little ones (Maddie & Ellie), have the older two brush their teeth and finally climb into bed for a story and prayers.  The difference, though, is that every night as the kids climb into bed, we have one more routine - pulling down the mosquito nets.

I knew that malaria was one of the major diseases affecting Africa, but as I watched Kerri read to the children, this evening, I decided to go and find out more about the disease and just how helpful these nets were at preventing it.  Here's what I found out...

In 2006 the World Health Organization estimated that there were over 200 million malaria cases and nearly 1 million deaths related to those cases.  What's more astonishing is that 90% of all malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa.  That means that one person in Sub-Saharan Africa dies from Malaria every 35 seconds and most of the victims are 5 years of age and younger.

But mosquito nets can and do help.  There have been studies that have shown that treated mosquito nets can reduce the chance of malaria transmission in high-risk areas by nearly 50%.  These same nets, which cost roughly 10 U.S. dollars, can protect an entire family for up to 4 years without being retreated.  

As I researched, I was blown away by the numbers.  I didn't realize the widespread effects of this particular disease.  I didn't realize how many people, mostly children, died each year.  I also didn't realize how something as simple as a net could have saved many of these lives.  I was in the dark.

But our God is a God who likes to bring things into the light and He as certainly done this for us.  One of the things that God has been teaching both Kerri and me during our time here in Zambia is that we have been blessed to be a blessing.  We should be thankful for every blessing, both spiritual and physical, that the Lord provides, but we should also go a step further and look for ways to bless those around us with the same blessings He has given us.  

I think that, on this evening, He was showing me a blessing that I hadn't really considered a blessing before.  He was showing me the blessing of mosquito nets.  I know this may sound stupid, but He was!  So, now, I'm eagerly waiting.  I know he has shown me this blessing so that I can bless someone else in a similar way.  I'm just wonder who it will be.

May the lesson He is teaching me encourage you to look for the different ways that God is blessing you and then find ways to use that blessing to bless others for the glory of Christ!

1 John 3:17

Smelly Post

Here is a post you truly cannot appreciate because we have no way for you to smell the odors originating from underneath our bathroom floor and also from the ceiling in Caleb's closet.  Shortly after we returned from the States, we realized that we had a problem with rats.  So, we did the normal thing and put out some poison.  

Well, the poison worked, but the little boogers didn't figure a way out of the house before kicking the bucket.  And they died in two different places that we do not have access to: underneath the house and in the ceilings.  So, the only solution is to wait for Mother Nature to take her course and for the smells to dissipate.  So, until then, we're left with a stinky situation!

No, complaints.  It is something we've grown accustomed to living in Zambia, but just thought you would like to share in our experiences... and be thankful for Terminex : )

Saturday Morning Time of Sharing

This morning I had the opportunity to attend an annual AWANA day camp for some of the local churches.  Alex, from Great Commission, invited me to come and share the gospel with the children.  This was my first exposure to AWANA, both here in Zambia and in the U.S..  It's encouraging to see their vision for evangelizing & discipling young children.  Above is a video clip with sights and sounds from this morning's meeting.

If you are receiving this post via e-mail, you can click on the following link and view the video on Youtube (Click Here).  Or you can visit our site and watch it from there (www.robertsinzambia.blogspot.com).

Hope you enjoy!

A 1st for Her 21st

This past Monday, Kerri and I went over to the Allens to celebrate a 1st for someone's 21st.  Our friend Elizabeth was the guest of honor along with her family and some friends.  We met Elizabeth when we first came to Zambia after she was recommended to do some babysitting for our team.  Since then she has become a very familiar face around our house.  Monday was Elizabeth's 21st birthday.  What was special about this celebration was that it was the first birthday party she had ever had!  Can you take a moment and try to imagine that?  Each year, another birthday, and each year, instead of deciding where you want to go to celebrate, having to worry about whether or not your family will even be able to eat.  

Elizabeth is the oldest of the surviving children in her family.  Her father and several siblings have passed away leaving her widowed mother to make ends meet.  Elizabeth has taken on the responsibility of helping provide for the family and put her younger siblings through school.  The great thing about Elizabeth is that you would never know she carries that kind of burden.  Regardless of the pressures of life, she always seems to have a smile and is truly one of the happiest people we've ever met.  On this evening, her smile was a little bigger.

It started off with dinner (complements of Stephanie Allen) - rice with gravy, broccoli, scalloped potatoes and meatballs.  Elizabeth loves the opportunity to eat meat.  So, she was particularly appreciative of the meatballs!  After dinner we all took the time to tell Elizabeth one thing that we enjoyed about her.  As we went around the table, there was one common theme - her joyful spirit.  Finally came the cake & presents!  I wish you could have seen the excitement on her face as she blew out the candles on her cake and opened her presents.  Before blowing out the candles, she must have taken 5 minutes deciding what to wish for.  All she got for presents was a small curling iron and a devotional book, but you would have thought she'd won the lottery.  She and her sister literally screamed for joy as she opened each present.

The evening was overwhelming and maybe more for me than it was for her.  As I sat there watching the excitement in her face, the smiles around the table from her family, and the deep appreciation for the evening, I was blown away.  I  came over just to celebrate another birthday, something I've done a thousand times, but I left feeling like I had just celebrated one again for the very first time.

I Am Just Like the Israelites

As I have read the Old Testament over the years, I have always been amazed at the forgetfulness of the Israelites.  Especially during the Exodus when God did all these miraculous things right before their eyes and five minutes later they were making idols to worship.  I've never understood how they could forget that God parted the Red Sea, for crying out loud!  He was there with them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  How could they doubt He was able to feed them or give them water to drink?  Well, as it turns out, I'm not so different from them and God has brought that reality to my attention over the last few weeks.  

The Sunday before we left, I had the opportunity to share with our home church about the miraculous way God had healed my brain.  I also shared how Satan had still been attacking me with anxiety because I still suffer from headaches and some weak sensations in my left side.  Then we had a time of prayer and someone in one of the services prayed, "God, let us not forget this miracle that You have done in Kerri's life."  That one little prayer stuck with me.  That day I realized that by being anxious, I was being just like the Israelites.  God has done exceedingly, abundantly more than we could have expected and we have an MRI to prove it.  How can I now be worried that He is not able to protect and preserve me, that something could still be wrong, that He is not able to take away my headaches?  It's that sneaky sin nature!  That tendency toward unbelief and self-reliance.  

So, I was sharing about my headaches with my best friend, just yesterday.  This is part of the email she sent back to me.  See if you notice a theme!  I think that God is definitely teaching me, yet again.  I hope that you will be encouraged to search your hearts along with me. 

I prayed for you this morning and specifically addressed the issue of your fear.  In praying, I was reminded of a Scripture that someone just pointed out to me a few days ago.  From Exodus 14:13.  It's when the Israelites are standing in front of the red sea wondering how they will get over it and the Egyptians and their chariots are behind them.  Even after all God had done to free them, they still doubted His care and provision for their lives.  So they are scared to death complaining to Moses saying, "Why did you bring us here to die?"  So Moses says to them, 

"Do not fear!  Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; ...The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent (also translated "while you are still.")." 

Remember that God has done a mighty work in you ... he has healed you and done exceedingly more than you could hope or think.  Through your physical issues, Satan is desperately trying to make you fear and doubt what God has done in and through you over the past few months.  But, God will fight for you while you are still before Him ... therefore, there is no need for you to fear.  He has gone before you and is upholding you.  He has ordained this time in your life and will protect and keep you.  I will be fervant in praying for you about all of this!  I'm specifically going to pray that God will just take the headaches away!!!  

So, I will choose to be still before the Lord and thank Him for all that He has already accomplished on my behalf.  I will thank Him also for using others to speak Truth into my life!

15 Years of Fruit

Our director, Tim Hilty and his family, are in the states for a well-deserved furlough. But, he has been watching and praying and leading us from afar. He just sent the team a note the other day that captures some of the things we are doing here in Zambia and how the irony of our philosophy of long term training is actually producing some short term gain. I hope you are encouraged.   Thanks for your partnership with us!


Action Zambia,

I just wanted to respond to the encouraging reports that I've been getting from those of you on the field. Testimonies about the type of fruit we are beginning to see in our ministries are very good and it's important that we celebrate it when we see it. I'll mention but a few things. It was very heartening for me to hear the report from Brent about GCB and their decision to start another cell group within their ministry area. In this, we can praise the Lord how we see the church latching on to the importance of discipleship as well as multiplying (through the training they received). And in an email I received from Tracy recently - he shared how he was able to officiate at the graduation of ten pastors at Anderson Jere's church. The Veritas curriculm that ABI is using to teach pastors biblical exegesis requires that pastors also teach to others the same material that they have received. So when Anderson Jere takes what he has learned in ABI and in turn teaches it within his church we praise God for multiplying our labors and efforts. Please pray that God would bless the men and women we invest in - that they might apply the Word to their lives and be stewards of the training they are receiving. Of course there are many other examples we can point to as well.

I think it's appropriate to point out is that these things are coming about in part due to our long term focus in ministry. Multiplication, equipping, discipleship, relationship all have one thing in common - they take time and they require a "15 year focus" rather than an "15 month focus". Never give up in the work that you are doing and never abandon some of these principles because the great irony is that when we operate with the long-term in mind we will actually begin to see some dividends that last rather shortly...quicker than we would see if we operated with the short-term in mind. In other words, when we build for the long haul, we should also expect to see fruit from that - and some of that fruit will be evidenced quite early. We do not have to wait 15 years for fruit. The temptation is out there to make short-investments but what we need is long term investments. May we pray diligently that God would help us persevere and stay the course. Be encouraged, we are involved in a good work. May the glory of God be displayed in each of our lives.

In Christ,
Tim

You've Gained

There are many interesting and sometimes funny things that happen when you enter a culture that is different from your own.  In the USA, if someone you know has put on some weight, you wouldn't dare say anything about it to them.  You might comment to your spouse or another friend (and if you're from the South, you'll say she's looking a little "fuller than usual" and follow it with a "bless her heart"), but you would never want to embarrass the person by mentioning his or her weight.  

Well, this is most definitely not the case here in Zambia.  Most Zambians consider it a good thing to be gaining weight - it's a sign that you are healthy and happy.  So, if you've put on a few pounds (or kg's here), people are quick to point it out.  Having been in the States, being spoiled by living with Brent's parents, and, let's face it, indulging in everything we love to eat for 6 months, Brent and I have both put on extra weight.  So now that we're back in Zambia, the first thing people say to us when they see us is, "Oh, you've gained!"   I told Brent after church yesterday that it really cracks me up that I'm constantly being told how chubby I am.  I'm not exaggerating either.  EVERY Zambian friend I have seen has commented that I've gained weight.  The funny part is that they in no way see it as an insult.  They are just stating the obvious and letting you know that you look healthy and happy!  I guess it's a good incentive to get back to working out and eating healthily!  Hopefully soon they'll be asking me if my husband is treating me well because I'm looking too skinny!  :-)  

A Furniture Puzzle

Shopping for furniture in Zambia is a lot different than shopping for furniture in the States.  First of all, we buy our furniture off the side of the street in a carpentry district known as Kalingalinga.  There are several small shops that specialize in furniture.  Today, Kerri went to pick up our new bunk bed.  She had a few of the guys at the shop load the bed on top and inside of the car.  Yet another difference.  No delivery service here.

Now, in the States, the furniture stores usually sell stuff that fits in your home, or can at least be assembled once you get it in the house.  And most homes have more than one way of getting furniture into a specific room in the house.  Well, we were out of luck on both fronts.  The bed (which was very well made, by the way) was a quarter of an inch too long.  You might not think that is a big deal, but it is.  You see our house has one hallway that leads to all of the bedrooms.  All of the bed rooms have bars on the windows.  So, there is one way in and one way out.  We had planned on putting the bed in Maddie's room and moving Gracyn in there with her.  But, because of that quarter of an inch, there was no way we could get the bed in the room.  We spent over 2 hours flipping it over, turning it this way and that, and trying to determine if there was any way to take the bed apart, until we finally gave up.

So, the new bed that was going to go in Maddie's room, got put in Caleb's room.  We then decided to take his bed, which was small enough to fit through the hallway, into Maddie's room. We'll just paint it white and make it into a girly bed!   The kids didn't mind too much, but after all was said and done, the adults were worn out!

2:7 Reunion

This afternoon, was the first time since leaving Zambia that I was able to meet with the pastors & church leaders we have been working with on discipleship training.  Two days a week, we meet and run Navigators 2:7 discipleship with these pastors.  The series features three books all geared towards deepening one's relationship with God.  As part of signing up for this training, each pastor / church leader agreed that they would, after learning from the group, go and train other leaders in their churches on discipleship.

It was fun catching up with these men.  All of them have, in fact, started their own groups within their churches.  While some of the groups have struggled with regular attendance, many were thriving.  As they went around and shared how their groups were going, it was encouraging to see that the training we have offered to these 12 men is now being extended to over 60 men and women within their respective churches.  Praise God for the work He is doing in His church here in Zambia!

Oh, sorry for the fuzzy pic.  I forgot my camera and snapped a quick picture with my phone.  The lighting wasn't good, hence the fuzziness.

Frogger

Do you remember that old Atari game "Frogger?"  Where you try to navigate a frog across busy streets & croc infested rivers to get to the other side of the screen.  Well, this guy apparently didn't make it.

This picture was taken at our office.  I don't know how, but this rather large frog found his way into the men's toilet.  Rule 1 in Zambia:  Always look before you squat!

What are your neighbors doing

Kerri, the kids and I were having dinner the other night and heard something that you just don't get to hear in America.  A family cookout next door.  The difference is that in Zambia, you don't have a gathering without singing.  This culture is so based in music that everyone sings and it is so beautiful.  As we heard the singing, I snuck out the front door of our house and headed over to the fence that separates our yards.  I just sat there secretly enjoying as this group of family and friends sang.  The audio on the camera I was using is not that great, but I just wanted to give you an idea of what we heard as we sat down for dinner.  You might want to turn the volume up on your computer before listening.

Reminder:  If you are receiving this via email, you will need to go to our website to view this video: www.RobertsInZambia.Blogspot.Com.

Reunion Sunday

Yesterday, we visited Great Commission Baptist church to see our Zambian friends and worship together.  We didn't tell anyone we were coming and just showed up that morning.  We arrived just after opening prayer (late as usual).  As soon as we entered and sat down, Pastor Kandella had us stand back up and then the congregation sang a song as they came by one-by-one and greeted us.  They called it a Zambian welcome, which we enjoyed very much.

As the service progressed, one of my best Zambian Friends Alex, a deacon at this church, stood up to preach.  He taught on tithing.  He used the verse from Mark 12 about the poor widow who gave what she had as an offering.  Where in the States, a few might identify with this verse, I'm willing to bet most, if not all, of the congregation could identify.

After the service, I had a few minutes to catch up with some of the guys.  When we left in November, Luke and I had started a small discipleship group that met on Tuesday nights.  When we left, we didn't know whether it would continue or not.  Well, it didn't.  Instead, they have two discipleship groups that meet weekly, one on Monday and one on Thursday.  That's right, they multiplied!!  Isn't God good!  I'm going on Thursday night to attend their weekly meeting and am looking forward to it with great anticipation.

They have also started to reach out to the youth in their community on Saturday mornings through AWANA.  Right now, about 30 kids attend on a regular basis.  Alex, who also heads up this ministry, has just been appointed district coordinator for about 50 churches.  It's a pretty special thing that a deacon from a small church of 30 people is overseeing such a large ministry.

Anyways, it was great catching up with our Zambian friends.  Please continue to pray for this young church as they seek to reach out to their community with the Gospel of Christ.

P.S.

I also recorded a song from their service.  It's in CiNyanja, but it's a classic hymn.   See if you can guess what it is...

Happy Mother's Day

Ever since Kerri and I had decided to go back to the States to have Ellison, we wondered why God brought us back there for that time.  When we first found out about the pregnancy, we were planning on staying in Zambia.  But as time passed, God began to change our hearts and convince us that it was His will for us to return for that time.  So, as we packed up here and headed for home, we were on the lookout.  We thought that there must be some reason why we were headed back, other than to have a baby, but we just didn't know why.  

Before the birth, there was a time we thought Ellie might be breach.  As we sat in the doctor's office getting an ultrasound, we both questioned each other that this might be the reason.  But it wasn't.  Ellie was facing the right way.  As we headed to the hospital for the delivery, we wondered if there would be any surprises (other than the obvious), but there weren't.  The delivery went better than expected.  Then two weeks after the delivery, Kerri had a stroke.  As we sat in the hospital and talked, it was very clear that this was the reason why God had called us home.

But I'm not writing about why God called us back to the States for that short time.  As we have moved back to Zambia, it has become clear that there was another reason/blessing that God had called us back home.  Mainly the blessing of time with family and the time we got to spend getting to know my mom all over again.  So, I figured that today, being mother's day, was as good a time as any to dote on my mom.

If there's one word to describe mom, it would be committed, and, no, I don't mean that in an institutional sense.  She's a woman of commitment.

She's committed to her husband:

In an age where divorce is rampant, even amongst the church, she has been lovingly committed to my dad for more than 35 years.  And they genuinely love each other.  They still enjoy spending time together and and laughing together.  They have their own interests, but they love being around each other.  It's not that I didn't know this already, but it was reassuring living with them and seeing it firsthand.

She's committed to her children:

Even though as her child, I made many mistakes growing up (and continue to do so), my mom has always stood behind me.  She has always been there to give loving advice and has only ever wanted what was best for my sisters and me.  There are many children who grow up in families where this is just not the case.  So, I consider myself very blessed.

She's committed to her Family & Friends:

My mom has always been someone who would bend over backwards to help someone out when they are in need or just when they need someone to talk to.  In just the past 6 months, she has managed to watch my sister's youngest daughter during the day, went out of the way to make sure that our kids were taken care of when Kerri was in the hospital, taken our kids to places, called her youngest (Jessie) just to see how she's doing, helped Kerri with home schooling, chatted with her sister and close friends regularly just to talk about life, etc...  In everything she does, it is evident that she genuinely cares for her family and friends and most often puts our needs ahead of her own.

She was committed to her profession:

My mom is retired from being a teacher and principal for the mentally impaired.  She worked for a long time and was very good at what she did.  She loved the children and the people she worked with and to this day has contact with some of her former students.

She is committed to her grand babies:

Yep, all 7 of them.  While she probably wouldn't want to have them over at the house full time, she takes every opportunity to love on her grandchildren.  The first morning after we arrived back in Zambia, Maddie asked "Where's Grammy?"  Our children miss their Grammy and my sister's children are lucky for the time that they have with her!

I could go on and expand this list even further, but for time sake and for your reading eyes, I'll stop here.  I just thought it was important to take some time out of the normal blogging routine and share with you a piece of the blessing that my mom has been and continues to be for me and my family.  

Happy Mothers Day Mom!  We love you!

May Showers in Zambia

There's not much to talk about in these first few days.  We've just been busy unpacking and reuniting with old friends.  So, I figured I would begin our Zambian posts with what everyone talks about on a daily basis just about anywhere in the world -- The Weather!

I don't know if you remember or not, but when we came in February 2008, we experienced one or two showers that month and then no more rain for 6 months.  Usually, the rainy season is tapering off around March and April, but this year seems a bit different.  This afternoon, we experienced a torrential downpour when heading over to the Allens for dinner.

Normally, rain wouldn't be an exciting topic of conversation, but when it happens in May in Zambia, it is rather unusual.  The kids loved it.  Afterwards, they went outside and got all muddy.  Anyways, it was just an interesting part of our Friday here in Zambia.

I shot a quick video of the rains if you want to see.  Just CLICK HERE.

We've Arrived Again!

We're still trying to recover from jet lag, but I wanted to put up a quick post to let everyone know that we have made it back to Zambia.  After boarding a plane at 2:30 pm on Monday, we traveled to Atlanta where we were to connect with our flight to South Africa.  What was supposed to be a 35 minute flight, turned into an hour flight and we arrived in Atlanta with 15 minutes to make it to our gate.  

Long story short, I sent Kerri with the baby and the big kids to try to hustle to the gate hoping that if she made it they would wait for me.  I grabbed Maddie, threw her and 6 carry-ons into and onto the stroller and then was off to the races.  As I arrived at the gate, Kerri and the kids were waiting on me and the plane was still there, but they had closed the gate and wouldn't reopen it.  Needless to say, we were stuck in Atlanta for the evening.

The next day, things went rather uneventful.  We arrived at the airport on time, boarded the plane and headed for South Africa.  We made the connector flight to Lusaka with no problems and arrived in Zambia at 9:00 pm.  I'm including this small video to show how lack of sleep can affect little children.  Maddie was about to bust when this video was taken (48 hours into our trip).  

What was supposed to be 26 hours of travel turned into 51, but no complaints, we arrived safely and were reunited with our wonderful team.

**Reminder, if you are receiving this post via email, you will need to go to www.RobertsinZambia.Blogspot.com to view the video as it will not come through on the email.

Hiccup!

Delta's flight out of Columbia was delayed and we missed the flight to South Africa.  Delta was kind enough to put us up in a hotel.  So, we're in Atlanta on hold until tomorrow.  Please keep praying for us as we depart from Atlanta at 3:50 pm tomorrow.

Blessings!

Heading Back!

Kerri and I will be returning to Zambia today at 12:50 pm. We just wanted to send a quick note out to ask you to pray for us as we travel and begin to settle back into our lives there.

Just a reminder, our web site is the best way to keep up with us while we are in Zambia. We try to post something about our lives and ministry at least 3 – 4 times a week in an attempt to bring as much about Zambia and what God is doing there back to you. We’ll try to post something on our web site once we’ve arrived as well.

Thank you so much for your prayers over the past few months. You have been a tremendous encouragement to our family.

Blessings,
Brent & Kerri Roberts
http://www.robertsinzambia.blogspot.com/

A Good-Lookin' Brain

We thought you all might like to see my cool brain scans and the miracle that God has done in healing me. I was finally able to meet with my neurologist last week to look at the MRI from April 3 and to talk about his prognosis for me. The doctor had prepared me for the possibility that the clot may still be partially there, or may have left some "scarring" in the vein where it was, which would have been totally normal. The white spots you see on both sides of the brain in my MRI from January show active stroke. The neurologist explained that those spots indicated dead cells and that we could also expect them to be permanent.

Well, the MRI from April 3 showed that the blood clot had totally dissolved and left no damage. In addition, he could not find any trace of those white spots on my brain! In fact, he said that there was really no evidence that anything had been wrong with my brain. A "good-lookin' brain", in his words. The only thing the MRI found was a little snot in my sinuses!! Praise be to our God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or imagine!

Please continue to pray for me. The crisis is over, but I still have mild headaches and sensations in my body, which the neurologist says can last for a while. This has been SO much more than a health scare for me. It has been, and continues to be, a spiritual battle against fear and anxiety. God has been using it to teach me so much (which I will share soon), but I need His strength daily to walk in what I know to be true and not to succumb to anxiety. I would love your prayers, especially as we prepare to leave for Zambia in just 5 days. Thank you so much!

New Videos

We just wanted you to know that we have uploaded some new videos.  Our last week in Zambia, we recorded the worship service of Great Commission Baptist Church.  We thought you might enjoy listening to some true Zambian worship.

On the right-hand side of our website, we have a Roberts' Video Collection section.  The videos can be accessed there.  There are a total of 14 videos, but only 5 display on the website.  If you want to view some of the other videos, you can click on the link at the bottom of the Video Collection section.  If you are receiving this post via e-mail, you will need to visit our website to see these videos.

If receiving this via e-mail, go to: www.RobertsInZambia.Blogspot.com

Here is a link to one of the songs that Kerri sang with three of the members of Great Commission:  Click Here

Action Zambia Pastors Conference (Day 1)

Our fellow workers in Zambia are holding the first ever pastors conference. The conference is on biblical stewardship. Here is a short video Steve Allen put together of day 1 of the conference. Please be in prayer for the team and the pastors who are attending this conference.

If you are receiving this post in an e-mail, you will need to go to www.robertsinzambia.blogspot.com to view the video.

2 Weeks and Counting

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement over these past few months. It's hard to believe that in 2 weeks from today, we'll be boarding a plane and heading back to Zambia. Praise God for all that He has done during our time here.

We just wanted to ask for your prayers for some specific things over the next few weeks:

Packing - We have a lot of packing and preparing to do. Pray for Kerri's sanity, as she is primarily responsible for this task. Pray that we will be able to get all of the items that we need to take packed and under the weight limit.

Pray for the health of our family during this time as well. Pray that there won't be any stomach bugs or colds, etc.. that would delay us from our return.

Pray for our hearts. We have cherished this time the Lord has given us and it's going to be hard to leave our family and friends again.

Pray for our children as we travel. Pray that the younger ones would travel well. Pray for our safety as we travel.

Pray for our luggage. The airport in South Africa is notorious for "losing luggage." Pray that all of our luggage would make it to Zambia. Pray specifically for the baby formula that we are taking with us. Ellie requires this special formula because she is lactose intollerant. Pray that it makes it to Zambia as well.

Thank you again for standing behind us as we pursue Glorifying Jesus Christ in Zambia. We couldn't minister without your prayers and support.

Lydia is Walking!

Another update on Lydia. This one is provided by Sarah Melville. Below is the update from Sarah. To view a short video of Lydia walking go to: http://www.melvillesworld.com/blog/. Praise God for what He has done and continues to do!

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Yesterday (April 8), we went to visit with Lydia and her family and were amazed at how much progress she has made. She wasn’t in the living room when we arrived and it brought tears to our eyes to see her walk in the room albeit somewhat shakily and with mom very close by. We cannot tell you how much better she is doing compared to when we last saw her a couple of weeks ago. Her parents told us that she went to church with them for the first time on Sunday and Lydia told us that she liked going. This time is also such a boost for Ernest and Laikah – they looked much less tired and a lot happier, obviously so encouraged by their daughter’s improvement.

This is not to say that there is a long way to go. A physiotherapist is coming to the house three times a week which is possible only because of your generosity. He was there when we visited yesterday and we were very impressed. It is a huge blessing that he comes to see her in her own environment and without the stress of travelling to a clinic. While he was working with her we could hear her crying because her muscles have stiffened up so much the past few months. It is one of those situations where you have to be cruel to be kind although it was hard to hear her upset. We were also told that her drug regime has been reduced and this is undoubtedly helping her as she was a lot more responsive and stayed awake most of the time we were there. She has got very thin but over the last few days she is eating more and she is starting to feed herself with some foods

There is no progress yet with her sight. Please pray for this and that she will gain strength in her muscles and confidence as she learns to move around again. Do also pray that she will gain more appetite and put on weight. God is good!

From Sarah

MRI Results

This morning we received a text message from Kerri's neurologist. It read:
"Your brain and veins look fabulous! Better than we could have expected. Clot is all cleared up."
Praise God with us for an answer to prayer! We will go in to his office on Thursday for a follow-up appointment. Kerri will stop coumadin today and go on Aspirin. Pray that the transition is smoothe and that we can start focusing our energy on getting ready to return to Zambia. Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us. Please don't stop!!

MRI Friday

Just wanted to give a quick update and request your prayers. Tomorrow morning, Kerri will have another MRI to see if anything has changed since being in the hospital in January. The doctor is planning on taking her off of the blood thinners if there are no new developments in the MRI. This is the last step, medically, before our return to Zambia.

Please pray for her appointment tomorrow, that she won't be anxious. Pray also for her body to heal. Pray that as she comes off of the blood thinners, that she wouldn't have any headaches or weakness on her left side. Pray also that we would both learn all that God is trying to teach us through this recent trial and that our lives would be fully surrendered to Christ. Pray against the attacks of the enemy.

Thank you so much for being such an encouragement to our family these past few months.

Blessings

Lessons Learned

Over the past few months, we have been given the opportunity to share with many different churches and small groups about our ministry in Zambia and what God has been teaching us over the past year. Just thought you might be interested in hearing a little bit more of what we have been sharing while here in the States. Below are some video clips from our recent trip to Gaffney. They are of a sermon that the Lord laid on my heart to share here in the States. And please remember, TV adds about 25 pounds : ) At least that's what I'm telling myself.

Prayer Request

Please be in prayer for Kerri's father's side of the family. Kerri's grandmother passed away early Wednesday morning. She had been suffering from several physical ailments. Please be in prayer for her sons and daughters as well as the grandchildren.

Update on Ellie

I'm sorry to say that we haven't been very on top of things when it comes to taking pictures of Ellie. So I thought I'd just post a few pictures of our little girl so you can see how big she's getting and what a cutie she is!  She is 11 weeks old.

Sweet face

Contemplating her African friend Zebra

She spit up just after this picture...wonder why!

All smiles and lots of chins!

Gaffney

We had a wonderful trip to Gaffney, SC last weekend. We were so blessed by the people of the community there and had a great time staying with my aunt and uncle who live on a farm there. On Sunday Brent preached and I sang at Grassy Pond Baptist Church. The church made us feel so welcome and we enjoyed sharing some of what God has been teaching us over the last year.

On Monday we visited the Good News Bible Club at Grassy Pond Elementary School. This group adopted us as their missionaries in the fall. One of their leaders comes in each week and reads them excerpts from our blog so they are very acquainted with us and what we're doing in Africa. They have prayed for us! It was so neat to be there and to meet those kids. They had a million questions and it was fun! We taught them a Bemba song called Takwaba and enjoyed watching them sing and dance.



One highlight of the weekend for the kids was getting to ride a horse. Their cousin Christopher very kindly arranged for the kids to be able to ride and also led them around on the horse whose name was Sagebrush. It was relaxing to be out in the country and to enjoy the beauty of God's creation and the beauty of His people in Gaffney, SC. Thank you all for your hospitality and your encouragement!

(And yes, Gracyn got her hair cut!)

Lydia Update

This update was posted by our friend Megan. She is on our team in Zambia and is good friends with Lydia. Please continue to pray.

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Today I went to see Lydia. When I got to the house she was sitting outside with her parents in the sun. The doctor wants her awake and outside. When I saw her I asked her "Lydia, How are you?" And she answered "I am fine". She was eating an orange. I was so proud of her that she responded! She has made leaps and bounds, but is still not out of the woods. I told her that she looked beautiful and she started to cry. My heart broke. We moved her from the mat to the wheelchair and again she started to cry. It is painful for her to put weight on her legs and she is still blind, so she is easily scared. Please continue to pray for Lydia and a continued thanks to all of those who have supported her financially for medical bills.

Speaking in Gaffney

Just wanted to put a quick note out here to let you know that we will be speaking at a church in Gaffney this weekend. I'll be preaching the Sunday service and then on Monday, we'll be sharing with some of their youth who have been praying for us as we've been in Zambia.

Please pray that Jesus is glorified through our time with them.

Blessings!

Updated Return Dates

We posted our prayer letter yesterday evening, but had to make one significant change. After talking more about our return dates, Kerri and I decided that it would be better to push the dates out a little further. Our desire is that she would be off her medications for a full month before our return to Zambia to give her time to adjust. So, instead of returning on the 15th of April, we will be returning on May 4th.

February Prayer Letter

We just sent our latest prayer letter to the home office to be mailed out, but we wanted to make it available for you if you don't receive our mailings or if you just couldn't wait for it to show up in your mailbox. Blessings!

Prayer Request

Quick update: Tazi is doing well and all the tests (C-scan / X-ray / Blood work) shows that all she has is influenza. We are currently back home and trying to slow our schedule down a bit to allow all our kids to caught up. Thanks for all your prayers. God is always soooo good.

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Below is an e-mail I received from one of our fellow Zambian missionaries and close friends Luke and Elise Whitfield. Please be in prayer for their youngest daughter Tazi.

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Wanted to petition your prayers and let you know that this morning Tazi had a seizure and has been taken by abulance to the hospital. Elise travelled with and I have not been able to make it over to the hospital yet. She was running a fever this morning and began to go into convulsions in Elise's arms. Praise God that my cousin Matt, who is a paramedic, was here at the time and knew just what to do. Please pray for Tazi complete healing and that the peace of God would rest on us (especially for Elise) and pass this along to any prayer chain you may be apart of. We have been dealing with two other children that have been really sick with the flu so things have been pretty crazy around here. Just wanted to keep you all posted and will get back with an update when available. Love you all and pray for you daily.

Alive In Africa: Jobs...

Since we've been home, I've realized just how much I miss Zambia and also how much I miss writing about Zambia. So, in the spirit of keeping you and me connected to culture, ministry and life there, I have included a link to one of our other missionaries postings highlighting the African job scene. Just click on the link below:

Alive In Africa: Jobs...

Update on Lydia

Update from Graham and Sarah Melville in Zambia:

Since the last update, it was decided by the doctors that Lydia had TB but not in the lungs. This caused her to have a high temperature and become less responsive, so she was sent to the University Teaching hospital (UTH) to get general care. The hospital she was in after the CAT Scan was a non government specialist hospital. Since she has been at UTH, the temperature has stabilized, but she has stopped the little talking she was doing. Her movement of her left side is better and there is even the odd movement of her right side that was previously not functioning. She opens her eyes, but does not see. One of her parents are with her 24 by 7 and feed her. Her mother spends most of the time there and looks very drained and tired. They want another CAT scan to see if everything is OK and have been trying to fix the machine at UTH, but they still cannot get the machine working. I hope to speak again to the specialist at the hospital she was at before and see if we need to take her back up north to the town where there is a working machine.

Please continue to pray for her and her family.

Healthy and Zambia Bound???

Update:

Except for occasional headaches in the evening, Kerri has been 3 weeks now without showing any symptoms from the stroke.  She is on blood thinner, which should allow for the area of the brain that was affected by the stroke to heal.  So, things are going really well.

What was the Cause:

Many people have asked us if the doctors have identified what caused the clotting and stroke.  The doctor is almost certain that it is directly related to the pregnancy.  Apparently, when women are pregnant, their blood's ability to clot increases.  This is what the doctor says lead to the clot that developed in her brain.  The good news is that it wasn't related to a blood disorder.  So, it shouldn't again.

The Way Forward:

Last Wednesday, we finally had an opportunity to sit and talk with the neurologist and get ALL of our questions answered.  During this appointment, we were trying to understand the extent of treatment that Kerri will require before we can return to Zambia.  The doctor gave us some promising news.  We are scheduling another MRI for sometime around the 1st of April.  As long as there is nothing new, Kerri will stop taking blood thinners and we will be cleared for travel.  So, with that being said, it is looking like our return to Zambia should be sometime in the middle of April.  Thank you to all who have been praying for us over the past several weeks.  God has truly answered many prayers.

Pictures

Just thought you might enjoy seeing one of the slideshows that we are sharing with some of the churches and small groups we are sharing with about our 1st year of ministry in Zambia.

Updates

Kerri's Health:
Kerri is doing much better. She has not had any episodes since last Thursday and is off all medications except for the blood thinner. Her first appointment with the neurologist, since being released from the hospital, is scheduled for next week. This appointment will help us in determining the timeframe for our return to Zambia. Please continue to pray for her health and wisdom for us as when to return to the field.

Speaking Engagements:
Since being home, Kerri and I have had the opportunity to share about our ministry with a few churches and small groups. This past Wednesday, we shared at CLC. This is a group of believers primarily from BlueCross BlueShield who meet once a month to encourage one another in their personal walks with Christ. The time went pretty well and it was good catching up with many of our friends who I haven't seen since leaving BlueCross.

We will continue to be on the road speaking with different churches through the middle of February. This Sunday, we share with a Sunday school at First Baptist Church of Columbia and then I will be sharing during the sermon time at Rehobath United Methodist Church. After that, we travel to Whitmire, S.C. and Hartsville the following Sunday, followed by a trip to one of our supporting churches, Lake Oconee Presbyterian, in Georgia the weekend of the 15th. Please pray for us as we share about what God is doing through ACTION's ministry in Zambia.

Our Zambian Pigs:
Since we've been in the States, our two pigs have become escape artists. If you don't remember, we bought some pigs to investigate the costs associated with raising and breeding them. It was an effort to see if piggeries were a viable income generation activity in Zambia. Unfortunately, for Wilburn and Fern, there isn't a spider weaving encrypted messages in her web in an attempt to save them. So, due to us being out of the country, the pin not being able to hold them and our inability to care for them, we decided to find them a new home - Hog Heaven!

Update on Lydia

For all of you who have been praying for Lydia Sitali, here are the latest two updates.  Thank you all so much for lifting up and financially helping this family.

UPDATE 2

Hi all
Thank you for your support and continued prayers for Lydia. It has been a truly amazing response from you all.

The latest is that two days ago they had had her sit in a chair for a couple of hours, and although the progress was slow, she was responding a little better and she had feeling back in her right side. Yesterday they operated again as a routine procedure to move the drain of the shunt to the stomach. However since this time, she has been less responsive and is not talking. The doctors had expected her by today to be at least back to where she was before they operated as they had hoped the lack of response was just the effect of the anesthetic. However, as of this evening, she is still not talking and only eating porridge fed to her by her parents. The doctors have said she will now have to stay longer in the hospital which is quite a blow for the parents who are exhausted. Please pray she will become more responsive and that her sight will start to return and also for her parents.

UPDATE 3

Today I went to the hospital specifically to talk to the doctor since he always was busy in surgery at visiting time. He was delayed so I first spent about an hour with Lydia. She seems to be spending most of her time sleeping. She was sat in a chair and her parents were just finishing giving her a drink. She was given 70ml of fruit juice and it was a slow process as she kept falling asleep in between and sometimes even before she swallowed! The doctors want her to be more awake in the day so the parents have to keep trying to wake her up. After a short while I held her hand explained who I was (Graham the mzungu man with the scary dogs) and asked if she remembered me to squeeze my hand which she did. She was not talking other than she managed to say “fine” when I asked her how she was. The night before she had a bright spell where she asked her parents about her sisters but was confused on her mother’s name. Just before the doctor came she ate a mashed up banana fed to her by her mother, but fell asleep on the last mouthful – it looked like she was foaming at the mouth!! The doctor then came in and said that they were disappointed that she was not recovering faster but demonstrated that she was very much functioning by prodding her. He was a little harder on his waking her up than her parents had been and she lifted her arm to move the finger that was jabbing her in the chest. He asked her to lift her leg and also pinched it when she didn’t try. She said a loud ow! and tried to lift her leg. After this she seemed much more alert and was waving flies off her (yes we get flies inside hospitals n Zambia) and lifting her blanket when it started to slip down her. She is very pale so they will be giving her blood over the weekend and they hope this will also make her more alert. She cannot see at all and the doctors do not know if and when her sight will return. The doctor said that the pressure exerted on her brain had been for a very extended period, the fluid was not drained from her skull until she got to this hospital and by that time she had been sick for four weeks, it is amazing that she did not die. They want her to go home Tuesday and be cared for at home especially as the parents are camped out at the hospital and exhausted.

The main things they want is for her to eat more, sleep less, talk and move, so please pray for these things, and also that the blood will make a difference and the transition home will go well.

Blessings on you all

Graham & Sarah

A Couple of Updates

Kerri

Kerri ventured out of the house yesterday morning for a few minutes. We had a baby dedication for Ellie at our church. She showed up for the first few minutes of the service and stayed through the dedication, then went back home. We went to the hospital today for her first blood check. They are trying to regulate the thinness of her blood with medicine and todays test was to see how thin it was. As for her recovery, it seems to be going well. She is still experiencing ocassional headaches and other symptoms, but each day seems better than the day before. I cannot express how thankful we are for all of you who have been praying for us, sending e-mails, calling, etc... You have all been a tremendous source of encouragement to our family.



Lydia Sitali

The latest is that Lydia is doing well. She is more responsive and talking a little more. There is still a lot she cannot do though –such as sit up, eat and drink by herself, so there is a long way to go. She also still has no sight in either eye although the right eye is now opening. At least she is in the best possible place she could be and there is a lot of prayer support for her. Ernest and Laikah her parents who run both the church and the school are at the hospital practically all the time. Since Lydia and her parents teach at the school, the school opens on Monday three teachers short which members of the church are temporarily filling.

Help Us Help Her

After what happened this week, Kerri and I wanted to make you aware of another health issue facing the daughter of one of our friends in Zambia. An issue eerily similar to what Kerri has been going through. It concerns the daughter of one of the pastors that we work closely with in Zambia, Pastor Ernest Sitali. Please read the correspondence we received from our director.

From Tim Hilty, Action Zambia Director:

"We have a crisis that we would like your help with. The pastor that Graham works most closely with is Ernest Sitali. He pastors Living Waters church and that church runs a very successful community school which Action Zambia works with. A few days ago we discovered that one of his daughters, Lydia Sitali, who is also a teacher at the school, had been sick for about three weeks with the right side of her body paralysed, diminished sight and general confusion about who people were. She was unable to sit up and needed a CAT scan but of the two machines in Zambia, only one was working and that took a 220 mile journey to the town of Kitwe. Tim, our director took her and her parents to have the scan and she is now in a private hospital in Lusaka being operated on. It is very likely that if she had gone back to the government hospital, the main one in the country here in the capital, that she would have died. Hopefully she will pull through but the bill for all this will be in excess of $2000. Some funds have come in but we need more. If you can help with this crisis, it would be so much appreciated."

Kerri and I have both felt the tremendous blessings of being able to be in the States under expert medical care during this past week. We have been extremely thankful for access to all of the latest medicines and technology. Pastor Sitali's daughter doesn't have these privileges. In thinking of her situation, we thought that maybe our trial was a way to bring blessing to her. We just wanted to encourage you to pray about how you might bless this young woman and her family.

If you would like to make a donation to help click here. This link will take you to our financial giving page with Action International. Fill out all pertinent information and in the comments field at the bottom of the donation put 'Medical' in the comments box. Please be sure to put 'Medical' in the comments or we will have no way of identifying the gift as marked for Pastor Sitali's daughter. Thank you for prayerfully considering helping this family in their time of need.

Friday Afternoon Update (Headed Home)

After experiencing more symptoms yesterday, things settled back down and Kerri started feeling better that afternoon.  The doctor ordered another CAT scan, which showed nothing new.  He said that because of the damage already done from the clot,  that part of her brain would be sensitive and symptoms could recur occasionally until she is completely healed.  

The good news is that he also said that this stroke, which is what he called it, was the mildest of its type that he had seen and she should make a full recovery.  He has now given orders for Kerri to be released from the hospital this afternoon.  Praise the Lord for his faithfulness!  And thank you to so many of you who have been praying on our behalf.

Please continue to pray for her recovery.  The doctors have prescribed two separate types of blood thinners, one that she will take for the next week to two weeks and the other that she will take the following three months.

Pray also for wisdom for us.  Our desire is to return to Zambia and continue the ministry to which God has called us to there.  We are trying to understand all of our options concerning her treatment and also what treatment is available in Zambia.

Thursday Morning Update (Another Setback)

Just wanted to give a quick update so you would know how to pray.  We were expecting to be heading home this morning, but had a setback. Kerri woke up and for a brief period of time was unable to use her left hand. She has experienced some numbness and tingling in her left side, her headache has come back and she is having problems with her vision again. The doctors said they wanted to keep us in the hospital another day for observation. So, it looks like we will be here for at least another day.  We're not sure whether or not they will do any further tests or just keep her for observation, but please continue to pray.

You can specifically pray for her health as well as comfort.  She is really struggling with not being able to take care of our newborn daughter Ellie.  Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement.

Wednesday Update

Thank you so much for all of your prayers, visits and e-mails of encouragement.  Today has been another good day.  This morning at 7:00 am, Kerri had a second MRI.  The results of the scan showed that the blood clot had begun to resolve itself.  A new development is that some of the smaller vessels that drain into that main vessel are showing blockage.  The doctor said that it was not surprising.  He equated it to a main highway being blocked and the surrounding roads getting backed up with traffic.

The good news is that Kerri has now progressed to the point where the neurologist feels safe releasing her from the hospital.  So, tomorrow, it looks like we'll be heading back to my parents house.  The plan going forward is for Kerri to begin blood thinning medication on her own and continue on the medicine for the next three months.  Please continue to pray for her as she recovers.

We cannot express how thankful we are for each of you praying on our behalf.  We've been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support and encouragement we have received.  You have truly blessed us during this difficult time.

Update on Kerri

Just wanted to give you a quick update on Kerri.  She is doing better today.  At 3:30 pm, her headache was all but gone and she has reduced her pain meds from morphine to darvocet.  Her left arm and leg are still not 100%, but are getting better.  She is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow to see if there has been any progress with the blood clot.  Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.

Please pray for us

For those of you who didn't know, Kerri has been in the midst of a medical emergency the past 24 hours.  We figured the best way to keep you up to date and let you know how to pray, would be to post updates to our blog.  Below is all of the information that we know to date.  We'll use this post to keep you up to date with what is going on.  Please be in prayer for Kerri and our family.

3:00 AM:

Last night, Kerri and I ended up going to the emergency room at 11:00 pm. Kerri has had a headache for the past four days and tonight started experiencing other symptoms. She has lost partial control of her left arm and has at times lost motor control of her right leg.  Initial CAT scans revealed that she had a small amount of bleeding on the brain. They have scheduled an MRI tomorrow morning to do some further investigation before deciding on treatment options. Best case scenario, it fixes itself with no treatment. 

2:00 PM:

Kerri had her MRI.  We are awaiting the results.  During the MRI, her whole body went numb and her headache has gotten worse.

7:30 PM

The doctors have told us that Kerri has a blood clot on the outside of her brain right at the top of her head.  We're waiting on the specialist to provide a plan of treatment.

9:30 PM:

The specialist came by and looked at Kerri's tests.  He has told us that it can be treated without surgery.  She has started taking a blood thinner that should break the clot up and allow it to be absorbed into her body.  He informed us that she will be here for the next several days for observation and another MRI.  All signs point to this being able to be treated with little to no long term effects.

Want to Join Our Distribution

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New Years Resolutions

It's that time of year again. The time of year where everyone, including me, makes New Year's resolutions--some they stick to and some they don't. A few years ago, someone challenged me that while making resolutions, I should probably focus more on the ones that could really make an impact on my life. Yes, losing a few pounds is always good and makes me feel a lot better, but what are the resolutions that I can make that will benefit my soul.

So, in gearing up for your New Year's resolutions, I encourage you to ask yourself what God would have you work on over the next year:

• Maybe you've never read the bible from cover to cover. Why not make it a goal to do this over the next year. There are many different plans to help you do this. One that I have found helpful is http://www.bibleplan.org/.

• Maybe there are some areas of your life that you are struggling to give over to God. Why not make it a goal to memorize 10 bible verses and pray for spiritual freedom on the area of struggle. (i.e. Unforgiveness- Matthew 5:44, Lust 5:27-28, etc...)

• Maybe you desire to know the bible better. Why not make it a goal to memorize 52 random verses (1 per week) and do a focused study on one specific book of the bible?

• Maybe your prayer life is struggling. Why not do a topical study from Scripture on prayer and commit to praying 5 & 5 (5 minutes / 5 days a week)? Of course you can pray longer, but start small and work up.

So, think about it. Pray over it. What would God have you do over the next year to benefit your soul. What changes need to take place in your life that will bring about more intimacy between you and your heavenly Father? What spiritual disciplines can you develop that will help you to foster an attitude of dependence on God for all things?

Blessings in the New Year!

Ellison Elizabeth Roberts Has Arrived

Just wanted to announce that at 3:01 pm this afternoon, Ellison Elizabeth Roberts was born at Palmetto Health Baptist hospital. She was 7 lbs, 12 oz and 20 inches long. The delivery went great and mother and baby are doing well. They are now resting. Thank you so much for all of your prayers.

Quick Updates

It's been nice being home in South Carolina visiting with family and friends.  Our first month has been rather busy.  Just thought I would give you a quick update to let you know what's been happening and what will be happening with the Roberts.

• Baby #4 will be delivered at Baptist Hospital tomorrow, as we have a scheduled induction.  Kerri and I are interested to see how Maddie treats the new baby.  Her favorite toy is her baby doll.  So, we think we're going to have to keep an eye out to make sure she doesn't try to pick the new baby up.  Please continue to pray for mother and baby.

• You might call us crazy, but we have also started the process for adopting when we return to Zambia.  We had our first home study last week and are trying to get a bunch of paperwork done so that we can be approved for adoption.  Please pray that all of the logistics and paperwork will go smoothly.

• Since being back, we've got to spend time with some different friends.  A couple of weeks ago, we went down to Kiawah to run in the Kiawah Island marathon/half marathon with a group from our church.  It was a great weekend except for having to run such a long way.  It has been great getting to catch up with all of our friends.

• The food has been great, but costly.  I've already gained 12 pounds and I'm not pregnant.  It wouldn't be that bad if I hadn't been running over that same period.

• We've really enjoyed spending time with our parents.  We're staying with my parents, and Kerri's parents have been by often.  It has been such a blessing to see them again.

Thank you so much for continuing to pray for us.  We covet your prayers.

To be a Blessing

Genesis 12:1-3

The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.  "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

Psalm 67

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, "Selah"  That your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

Why does God choose to bless us? And how should we express thankfulness for His blessings? Is it just by our words or is a heart of thanksgiving also dictated by our actions? These were just some of the questions I was pondering as I read some verses from Genesis12. Although this particular passage of Scripture was a promise from God to Abraham about the Messiah one day being born through his seed, God was also showing me that He blesses His children so that they can be a blessing to others.

As I thought about this, I then began to think about Psalm 67, where the Psalmist is asking the Lord to bless His people so that His ways would be known on the earth, His salvation among the nations. As I sat there and meditated on these two verses, I then began to think about how the Lord had blessed me. I have been blessed with a healthy and beautiful family, I have been blessed with a Godly and beautiful wife, I have been blessed with friends who love me, I have been blessed financially (compared to the rest of the world), and most importantly, I have received the spiritual blessings that can only be found in Christ (joy in the midst of trials, love in the midst of being wronged, hope in the life everlasting).

But why? Why does God choose to bless me? And why does He choose to bless me in so many ways? It's not because of anything that I've done. I'm a sinner. Apart from Christ, I have nothing to offer God. All of my works are useless chaff. And He doesn't bless me in certain ways because He loves me more than someone else. He loves everyone the same. So, why does He bless me? Why?

I believe that part of the answer lies in the above verses. He blesses me so that I can be a blessing. He blesses me so that His name may be great among all the peoples of the earth. He blesses me so that His salvation can be known by many. He blesses me so that I can be a blessing to others. He blesses me in the ways He has blessed me, both spiritually and physically, so that I can fulfill His purposes to those He wants me to reach. Too many times, I feel like I fail in this endeavor, but I press on knowing that His strength is perfected in my weakness and knowing that despite my flaws, He still wants to bless others through me.

What about you? How and why has God blessed you? How would He have you use these blessings to bless others?

22nd or Bust!!!

Just wanted to give you a quick update on the pregnancy. Kerri had another scheduled checkup with the doctor yesterday. The baby is doing well. If she does not go into labor by the 22nd of December, she will be induced that morning. So in less than three weeks time we will be welcoming a new family member into the world. Please be in prayer for us during this time.