Month: November 2012

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Mama Regina Robbed

In Kenya when a Mama Reginawoman has a daughter, the mother is then called by the daughter’s first name. Lucy Njeri is loving known to us as Mama Regina. We met her in 2005 on our first trip to Ruiru Kenya. We noticed her smiling face and her dedicated service to the church.  Her story is one of victory and great sorrow.

A widow and mother of two, she lived in extreme poverty at that time. Her house was a rat-infested mud hut which filled with water during the rainy seasons. She had an incurable illness, was jobless and she was skin and bones. Even her mother called her “The dead!” Daily meals were not an option.  Lucy began to attend the Father’s House. She decided if she was going to die she would die serving the Lord.

We watched her work so hard, diligent, faithful. She scrubbed the floors with this bucket and a rag. She wiped down every chair, cleaned the bathrooms, swept the dirt walk ways, shook out the rugs.  Afterwards she would often fall asleep on the floor of the church because of her illness and the strength it took to clean. This sickness was robbing her of life. But she became such an asset to the ministry they began to pay her for the work.  God was showing himself strong on her behalf.

Her daughter Regina had a son, Morgan; we lovingly termed him “the church mouse” as he was there with grandma every day. What a smile he had.  What fun we had with him. There was never a dull moment. He captured all our hearts.

               It has now been 8 years;  each year we return to find Mama Regina working and smiling. This death sentence illness was loosing its grip; strength and health were springing forth. This picture from 2007 is dark but here she is dressed beautifully, I could hardly recognize her.  Her joy was evident to all, her life glowing with warmth. Her voice had been attacked by the illness making it deep and gravel sounding, so her smile and service were her modes of communication.You think… Lord, how can I be more like this woman? She is such a role model.  Mama Regina

Her time working at the church put her in a position to hear the teachings in the daily services and the bible school. She began to hear that the healing and restoring power of the love of God was at work in her. The Church knew she was so valuable they made her the Custodial manager of the facility. They also made sure she had nutritious food to eat and medicine.  Love and Life began to take hold. We returned each year to find her the joy of the day!  Then in the fall of 2011 we learned her daughter Regena died of pneumonia. She had remarried and moved to the coast. But when she passed so suddenly the husband no longer wanted to  keep Morgan. Morgan had health issues and needed constant medical care.  We saw him once again in December and put together a small Christmas package. Morgan needed steroids and his kidneys were failing him. His sorrow of the loss of his mother was a heavy load to bear. Our sweet Mama Regina carried all this on her. Her smile was there but the light-hearted joy was harder to see. She was grieving as we were with her.  Then once again the unthinkable came, we got an email Morgan’s health is serious, please pray. As we sat on the couch praying for Morgan a text came to our phone: Morgan had passed. We wept. Our dear Mama Regina, the widow, once again faced death in her family, her daughter and grandson. She knows her heavenly father is holding her in his wings. He comforts those who mourn. Precious to the Lord is the death of his saints.   And we shall be together again.

Africa, Kenya is too well known for this sorrow, needless death because of lack of medicines and facilities to treat. So we honor you Mama Regina dear Lucy for your strength and faithful service, for your example to all around you, for your courage, for never giving up, for knowing and walking with God your father and Jesus your Lord. Last December as we walked the church grounds I could hear her singing joyful songs as she cleaned; another sign of the healing power of God in her body.

So all this makes the enemy mad. Like Job, in all this she didn’t blame God, she praised him. And like Job, satan attacked once again. thieves broke into her one room home, no longer a mud hut flooded during the rainy season; a nice home filled with treasurers of love and service stolen. In one foolish moment the enemy found a fool to do his biding.

That makes me mad! Mad enough to act. Mad enough to get revenge on the enemy, to do like Jesus go heal, give, serve and love others! Join me in this victory march. Help me restore what the enemy has taken.  Help me do something.

Left to right: Mama Regina, Mary, Ann and Connie 2011

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Tea Party

I want to share with you one of my passions and hope that you will hear my heart.

Almost 2 years ago I was sitting in my $200,000 house on 2 acres of land, with a new car, 2 beautiful boys, I had just quit a very stressful job and was then immediately blessed with a job of my dreams. I had a huge walk in closet with tons of clothes and shoes, I could go get a starbucks whenever I wanted, I could go out to eat with friends, go on dates with my husband and never worry about money (to an extent).
I remember one day my heart being heavy as my sister and her husband were in Austin, Tx trying to raise money to start a church and the funds were not coming in. My parents were launching FULL time into the development of The HELPS Organization and I got a letter in the mail from a former student of mine asking me to support her mission trip. I had another friend leaving for Turkey for 2 years and I wanted to help all of them, I wanted to give and wished I could send them all hundreds of dollars.
I have always been good at making money. Ever since I was a very young girl I had a “side hustle.” In that moment as I looked at all the Blessings the Lord had given me so undeservingly, I made this resolve to use my gifts and talents to help raise money for others instead of keeping it for myself. My first project was refinishing a desk and chair. My goal was to sell it to raise money to help support my sister. I wanted to raise $300 and I achieved my goal. Next I made new tags for my handmade jewelry stating that the proceeds would go to helping young women around the world. I then had a garage sale for HELPS and put together a Holiday Market at East Cross United Methodist. Through those events I was able to raise $2000.  Which isn’t a ton of money, but is special to me, because I would never be able to just give $2000 out of my pocket. I wish I could. Then I also regularly take items to consignment shops and send HELPS the money. I do all this because I have been blessed, I lack nothing. And I am convinced it is better to give. I want my whole life to sing praises to the one who has clothed the lilies and feeds the sparrows.Holiday MartHoliday mart 2 

This year I have continued to take items to consignment, we have done 2 HELPS garage sales and made a combined total of about $1200 and the Holiday Market is around the corner. It starts November 25th and will go through December 2nd. I want to inspire you, I want to compel you, I want to stir you to look around at your life to count your blessings and not get caught up in the culture of this world to acquire more and more, but consider blessing others with the abundance you have been given.
My next project is to have a Tea Party to introduce my Special friends to some  beautiful young women in other countries. 
Emily French Director of education for HELPS
We look forward to hearing your great ideas on how you too can do the same and make a difference for others.
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Resource: a source or supply from which benefit is produced.

Chuck and I read 2 Corinthians 9 the other day in the Amplified version. For years I have loved, leaned on and relied on this scripture. As we read through verses 10 and 11……

10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [[e]which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].

11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.

It struck me that it says “God will Multiply YOUR resources for Sowing”. Paul was reminding the Corinthians that they had promised to give an offering. But in giving to others God finds a way to multiply your resources! Then as our righteousness manifest itself in active goodness, kindness and charity (or giving to the poor); We (YOU) are enriched in ALL things and in EVERY way. Why? So you can continue to be generous.  It is a cycle, a continuous cycle but it goes three ways: You, others and God. You give to others, they praise God for your giving and God gives you more resources for giving.

Verse 7 after telling us to not give in the wrong way, says…..”for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].”

Did you see that?! Is God unwilling to do without you? What about those you give too?

Verse 14 says “ And they yearn for you while they pray for you, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace (His favor and mercy and spiritual blessing which is shown forth) in YOU.”

Chuck and I have experienced this very thing. We have become family with these precious people in Kenya, Peru, India. Each time we return our bond grows stronger. They are praying for us thanking God for the gifts we bring. In return God is increasing our resources.   I want you to receive the same blessings! I want your fruit to show forth in acts of kindness, goodness and charity. I want you blessed and the fulfillment of the word that says God is unwilling to do without you! I and their independence increase. Now each year some of the bible students will sponsor another because of the blessing they have received in being sponsored. We see leadership coming forth. We see new businesses started. We see children have a chance for an education and in return their goal is to do the same for others.

I have many friends and associates in the same line of work, taking resources to the poor. When I see a newsletter I do something. It is not always big, but it is something. If I can give big I do; if I can’t I do something.  I have a friend who gives $10.00 what will this do? In Jamaica it will feed lunch to a  child for a month at school. How big is that? $25 provides a supply of food basics to a family for a month in Romania.

We have others that give $15 a month, that more than provides a bible school student a year’s tuition and yet another giver who gives so much that it provides for the operation of the Children’s home each month.

Now this also struck me as I read this passage of scripture about God increasing our resources. He has added NATIONS  to us. He has given us more Nations to sow into! This December we will arrive in Rwanda on the 6th. We will be meeting with Pastors who have seen things that no one should see. But it is a nation on the mend, and we have a chance to speak into their lives. Wow!

So to close this note, I want to say you are so important, to me, to God and to those you will touch by giving. HELPS is a resource, an avenue, and a conduit to send your love to other’s.

These are the opportunities coming up:*

Needed by January 2013

High School tuition and school supplies, 8 children per year: $750 each student

University tuition 2 students: $1750 each per semester.

May 1 2013

Trip tp Peru $4000

We know we can  meet these needs it was done last year by precious people seeing the value of giving with a cheerful heart. They are enjoying the fruit of their giving.

Join in the cycle of love and see what new resources begin to open up in your life.

*please note these are estimated amounts based on last years expenses.