On my 1st trip to Ethiopia with World Orphans I met a new friend from California who has also adopted several Ethiopia children.  We hit it off from the start, their church became a World Orphans partner church, and now we consider their family good friends and visit them when we go to California.

My last trip to Ethiopia in April he introduced me to an Ethiopian pastor who is a good friend of his.  I had a wonderful time with Pastor Fekadu and came to find out that his boyhood friend from Ethiopia now lives in Phoenix.  So upon returning to Phoenix, I met his friend of 50+ years and enjoyed sharing about the ministry and personal life of his best friend. While having coffee with him, I learn that I have met him before when we attended a service for Ethiopian adoptive families in Phoenix, and he is an elder at the Ethiopian church in Phoenix that started the orphanage in Ethiopia that Julie I and served at for a week before picking up Wendemagegn and Beza in Dec 2008.  (If you are still tracking with this web of intricate coincidences its a miracle).

All of this to say, I was very saddened and actually feeling guilty as I came back to Ethiopia, that while leading a team of 16 people out to the country in Wolisso, we would not be in Addis to see my new Pastor friend.  So as I stood in the airport waiting to pick up the team, I am left utterly amazed at God’s sovereignty yet again as I found myself in a city of 5 million+ people standing in a crazy mob at the airport next to my long lost friend, Pastor Fekadu.  He was waiting to pick up a good friend who had just lost their son.  I had a chance to pray with him, and I know that God orchestrated this meeting if for no other reason than for two brothers, separated by oceans and continents, languages and skin color, to pray together united as we all will be one day as all nations, tribes and tounges become one before an all-knowing, all-powerful sovereign God.

We embraced in a hug of joy and amazement that said it all – It’s not just a small world, but with God there are no such thing as coincidences.  In that moment I felt I knew in a small part what the father of the prodigal son felt as he embraced his son who came back home, and in some part how God must feel when someone who is lost finds their way back to God.

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

What a beautiful day in Ethiopia – this morning the sun was shining for the 1st time in a while, as we are in the middle of the rainy season.  We spent the morning in productive meetings with leaders from the denomination of our World Orphans partner churches, the largest Christian denomination in Ethiopia.

Later in the day we visited a unique ministry of a local Ethiopian church that empowers/equips and employs over 120 HIV positive women making jewelry and coffee to sell to both local and international buyers.  They not only provide them with jobs to feed them and their children, but also help restore them to community when they have been ostracized and shunned by even their own families.  Most importantly they are introduced to what the love of Jesus Christ is all about and hope not only for today, but for eternity.    This was a bright shining example of what the local church can do to reach out and make a difference in the lives of people in their community in practical ways while sharing the good news of true eternal hope.

Let your light shine before men that they might see your good works and praise your father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16

The apostle Peter wrote about this same hope these women are experiencing in 1 Peter 1:3-12 – read it today.

Arrived safely in Ethiopia – staying at the same hotel Julie & I stayed has brought back a lot of beautiful memories of the 1st days we had with Wendemagegn and Beza.

I’m on my way back to Ethiopia & Kenya to visit @Worldorphans friends & church partners

The past month has been a whirlwind!  I had a wonderful trip to my “second home” in Ethiopia at the end of April.

I continue to see God opening new doors and bringing new individuals and churches to the calling of God to care for the orphan and the widow.  I am excited to see the rollout of 10 new church partnerships in Haiti on June 1st – the culmination of months of work. The way things have come together and the people God has connected in this effort, both large churches like John Piper’s Bethlehem Baptist, as well as small churches with hearts like the Macedonian church in 2 Corinthians 8 giving sacrificially, is nothing short of a miracle.

While in Ethiopia, I had a great time with Pastor Trev and Shaun from our home church, Crossings.  We visited 2 World Orphans partner churches – casting vision for orphan and compassion care and seeing the great work they are doing in their communities.    I also had the joy of reconnecting with the beautiful children at Hope for the Hopeless where Julie and spent a week in Dec. 2008 when we traveled to pickup Wendemagegn and Beza. The children have grown so much – what a special group of kids that have such a deep love for each other and for us “Feringe’s” :-)

As I sat watching the soccer game and reading a book to a couple of the younger kids who didn’t understand a lot of English, I was reminded that love transcends all things – tribes (people groups), tongues (language barriers), nations, distance, time, sickness/disease, heartbreak, abandonment, neglect, abuse. These things can be devastating, but I continue to see the love of God transform and bring hope and joy to children.  God is so good!

One day there will be no more pain, sorrow, tears, and no more orphans. Even though it broke my heart to leave those kids behind once again, I take heart knowing that God is the father to the fatherless and the defender/provider for the orphan and the widow. One day I will be reunited for all eternity with many of those children because they have learned of the love of God through the gift of forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

I look forward to leading another trip back to Ethiopia in early October. If anyone is interested in going to see the work of World Orphans, or if you know of pastors or church leaders that may be interested, please let me know.

You can see more of my trip pictures online.

The Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT) press release was featured on YAHOO! News today (transcript below). Please read to learn more about our immediate and long-term efforts to help Haitian churches reunite, rescue and care for Haiti’s displaced and orphaned children. See the amazing list of participating organizations (so far) at the bottom of the page.

The original story can be found at: YAHOO! News – Haiti Orphan Relief Team. Click on the link to also share it with your Facebook friends, or to send it to your e-mail contacts. Help us spread the word for this collaborative, unified effort. A few clicks can help us make a real difference!

Whether you’re a pastor, church leader, or an individual looking for ways to get involved to help, I encourage you to come check out the work we are doing with the Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT). World Orphans and other ministries including the Christian Alliance for Orphans, Together for Adoption, FamilyLife’s Hope for Orphans, and many others have joined together to help churches in Haiti care for the needs of orphans and those in their community that have suffered tremendous loss due to the recent earthquake.

You can make a difference now by giving a secure, tax deductible donation at HaitiOrphanRelief.org to help churches help orphans. Also, if you or your church are interested in joining in a long term partnership with a church in Haiti, please fill out the individual or church contact form on the website.

You can follow the HORT team:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/haitiorphanreliefteam
Twitter: www.twitter.com/haitiorphan
Blog: www.haitiorphanrelief.org

Please be praying for the team as they travel to Haiti for 2 weeks on Feb 14th to begin helping churches help orphans. Also be praying with us for many U.S. churches to step forward in faith to partner with us as we love our neighbors in Haiti.

Its been almost two years since I traveled to Haiti, but the faces and places I visited are still near in my heart.

As the news of the earthquake came to me that Tuesday, I was transported in an instant to be with Guillo and Francklin at the pastor training center in Port-Au-Prince – now destroyed. To be with Jonathan, a pastoral student who was our driver and guide – how are he and his dear wife with whom we shared a wonderful dinner? To be with Jean-Manuel, a university student who I talked to at length, as he came to church seeking what it might mean to know and follow God. To be with the beautiful, precious children that I held and hugged and watched their faces transformed with smiles, intrigued by this white man and the hair on his arms as I handed out candy. To be with Pastor Emmanuel and the amazing people at Value Baptist Church. It was there that I experienced some of the most passionate and authentic worship of God I have ever seen, from a people who walked miles and climbed a mountain to come to church together.

Where are they all today? How many have lost everything they own? How many have lost loved ones? How many are suffering from amputated arms or legs, crushed by the building that collapsed? How many are orphaned and abandoned, separated from family by death or destruction or just the chaos? How many are widowed and in need of comfort and hope?

Tears stream down my face as I type these words and my heart aches, for these are not just faces from a photo or video on CNN. These are people I know – fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters to someone. Friends and brothers and sisters in Christ to me who are in need of our help.

1 John 3:16-18
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

Will you help us help them? We at World Orphans are working implement disaster relief and long term holistic care for those affected in Haiti by connecting YOU, individuals and churches here in the U.S., with strategic churches in Haiti who are reaching out and caring for the people in their communities.

Whether you want to give a one time or monthly donation, or whether you want information on how your church can partner with us, please take a minute to email me, mark @worldorphans.org
You can give securely online now at www.WorldOrphans.org/Haiti

For more information about the Haiti Orphan Relief Team (HORT), a collaborative effort of ministries that World Orphans is a part of, go to http://haitiorphanreliefteam.blogspot.com

Dinner with our Haitian ministry friends - Guillo & family, Jonathan & his wife, and my friend Francklin

The beautiful kids from Vallue Baptist Church outside Port-Au-Prince

Palace with our driver Jonathan

Palace after the earthquake

Dear friends and family
Some of you have asked about specific ways you can join us to help an orphan. Here are some specific ways you can join with World Orphans to help a child in need this Christmas. We are excited to see our kids get involved in this with us as they choose to give to other children this year.

Opportunities include:

KENYA: Shoes for slum children

These are some of the kids I met walking the street in Mathare slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Our church partner in Kenya does ministry in Mathare to the kids and families there. Many of the children they help are walking around without shoes. This simple need can be met for 100 children for $670. (or $6.70 for one child.)

Enter the following code on your check or online memo: KEN-231-Shoes

SUDAN: Clothing for former street boys
Many in Sudan lack access to basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter. At the World Orphans project in Darfur former street boys are living in church-based homes where they receive so much more than just the necessities. Each year our church partner purchases a full set of new clothing for the children under their care. This year, you can help provide new clothing and shoes for 50 boys for only $1,650 (or $33 for one child.)

Enter the following code on your check or online memo: SUD-537-Clothes

UGANDA: Life-saving mosquito nets
Malaria is a silent killer. Many young children succumb to this deadly disease every day and yet prevention is simple. Treated mosquito nets have been proven to reduce infection and save lives. Our church partners are able to provide these necessary nets for the children living in their homes, but there are many more children in their communities sleeping without protection. We would like to help our church partners to distribute these life-saving mosquito nets to 100 needy children. To do this, we need $880 (or $8.80 for one child.)

Enter the following code on your check or online memo: UGA-418-Mosquito

You can follow this link to World Orphans secure site and click on “Miscellaneous” option on the right and then input your donation amount and the specific project code listed above.

For more information or to read about opportunities to help children in other countries, I encourage you to visit the Blog of World Orphans’ president, Paul Myhill

What’s on your list this year? I had a hard time coming up with anything I really want (much less anything I really NEED).

Take a minute to watch this video and think about it. Then, will you consider giving a gift to someone who is really in need?

We are working with churches in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda, China, Cambodia, Thailand, Iraq, just to name a few. You can help rescue and care for an orphan today for a gift of any amount, helping to provide food, clothing, school fees, and love to a child who is really in need.

You can go to www.WorldOrphans.org and make a lasting impact on the life a child this Christmas.

This video tells the story of a couple who adopted 4 children and became debt free following the steps of Dave Ramseys Financial Peace and decided to use that freedom to bless another family, so they could adopt as well.

I remember watching this video at a conference in October of 2007. I walked out of that session with tears in my eyes and said “I want to be that guy” – the person with no debt who can use the resources God has entrusted to me to help others.

God has certainly blessed our family providing not only the means and funds for adoption, but more importantly the 2 beautiful children He gave us through adoption.

Acts 20:35 “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “

Who can you be a blessing to this Christmas?

If you would like to help change the life of an orphan, you can give a one time or monthly gift at www.WorldOrphans.org

I found some FREE Christmas music MP3 downloads on Amazon – Hurry, these may be limited time downloads.   Financial Peace approved just in time for the holidays!

I included individual links to each song.

Silent Night by Sixpence None The Richer – http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Night/dp/B002P2DFGM/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_7

God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen by Jars Of Clay – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OZJ86Q/ref=dm_dp_trk8

MercyMe: It came upon a midnight clear http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013DCB82/ref=dm_dp_trk1

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day by Casting Crowns – http://www.amazon.com/I-Heard-Bells-Christmas-Day/dp/B001GZOR6G/ref=pd_ybh_15?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1K5805ECNEFN4WV0X73M

Joy To The World by Casting Crowns – http://www.amazon.com/Joy-To-The-World/dp/B001GZL4I0/ref=pd_ybh_1?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=092M6PE91FTWR3Y5DY04

What Child Is This?  by Barlowgirl – http://www.amazon.com/What-Child-Is-This/dp/B001GD5DNO/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_62

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel  by Big Daddy Weave – http://www.amazon.com/O-Come-Emmanuel/dp/B002OTLEG4/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_2

Silent Night by House Of Heroes – http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Night/dp/B002UV37UM/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_5

O Holy Night by Mark Harris – http://www.amazon.com/O-Holy-Night/dp/B002Q5FN0Y/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_30

The Night Before Christmas by Brandon Heath – http://www.amazon.com/The-Night-Before-Christmas/dp/B002X2ZIY6/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_34

Do You Hear What I Hear by Mary McBride – http://www.amazon.com/Hear-What-Featuring-Patrick-Wilson/dp/B002RV943Y/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_7

No Room by Todd Agnew – http://www.amazon.com/No-Room/dp/B001382L6O/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_6

Who Is Like You (Album Version)  by Meredith Andrews –  http://www.amazon.com/Who-Like-You-Album-Version/dp/B0017TC5LK/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_55

I Celebrate The Day by Relient K – http://www.amazon.com/I-Celebrate-Day-Album-Version/dp/B001KW8QVM/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_3

Silent Night (Emmanuel) by Matt Maher – http://www.amazon.com/Silent-Night-Emmanuel/dp/B001LR6ONS/ref=pd_sim_dmusic_2

I wept this morning as I sat in the London airport surrounded by the trappings of this world – the duty free liquor shops, the endless rows of high priced jewelry & chocolate shops, realizing that my 1 much desired latte would have paid 1/2 a month’s rent for people like Ennis, Paul, mary, Jane & their families that I visited in Muthare slums this week.

I continue to pray that God would let my heart be broken for the things that break His heart, and that He would change me to be more like His son Jesus Christ – a compassionate, self-sacrificing servant, who considers others as more important than himself (philippians 2:1-8), and who loves his neighbor as himself, to be able to say as Paul did that to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I hope to post some pictures from my trip this week. Thanks to all who have been praying for me and the team. What an awesome time we had in Kenya seeing the power of the Holy spirit and the love of Christ through the local church giving hope, peace and joy to orphans, widows, the sick the lame, the hungry, and those who would otherwise be in utter despair.

When we visited Ennis in the Muthare slum, I think I witnessed the power of the gospel of Christ more clearly than I have ever experienced. I met Ennis on my visit to Kenya last March. She continues to gain strength – which is a miracle – her CD4 count has gone from 4 to over 900, and all without any medications.

When we arrived she was not home – she was cleaning her church, something she volunteers to do faithfully every week. Although she makes less than $15-20 per month washing clothes for people and is struggling to make enough for rent and food, she continues to trust God to provide and praises Him daily for what she has, as she serves Him faithfully. Before we left, I asked Ennis how we could pray for her – instead of asking for provision for rent or food or a blessing on her business, or to be able to move out of the slum to a better home for her and her kids, or for healing from HIV for her or her infected 2 year old boy Morgan, she simply asked that we would pray for her to have strength and faithfulness to continue to serve God and tell others about His love.

The pure and undefiled religion I saw on display – the complete and unfathomable contentment, overflowing joy, undeniable peace and hope, and remarkable humility of this woman – brought tears to everyone in the room, including the volunteers from the church that visit her regularly. We wept tears of joy together, not tears of despair. Just as she praised God and was thankful that He had brought visitors to encourage her, so did I – that He would show me a present-day servant and saint who bears witness to to life-changing power of God who forgives us and sustains us and is all we need. Ennis is a living example of how we should live our lives.

1 Timothy 6:6-7, 17-19
Hebrews 12:1-2

We spent monday morning with Fountan of Life (FOL) Church and their Home Based Care outreach ministry to people in the Muthare slums who are sick with HIV/AIDS.

We went in 2 teams, led by Pastor Gideon and volunteers from FOL. The ministry volunteers come 3 days every week – 1 day to each of the 3 slums they minister in. They currently have over 60 families that they care for and support – through prayer and encouragement, helping with practical needs like food, school fees, transportation to get medical treatment, and rent assistance. It is shocking to me that most people pay $10-20 USD per month for rent in an 8×10 ft shanty with no water or bathroom, and most do not have electricity. Most are struggling just to have food to eat – it is very difficult on their meager (if any)income especially when many of the women have been abandoned by their husband because they tested positive – they are now a shunned outcast to their family and community, and now care for their children on their own without any support.

Some, like Mary who we met, sleep on the floor- (the church has purchased mattresses for some as they are able). Others, like 60 year old Jane, sleep 9 people (including her 2 daughters and grandchildren) in a 12×12 home. They sleep on 1 twin bed, the couch, the floor or the coffee table, which they eat around during the day and becomes a bed at night.

As we walked through this dark place, where you could see in the eyes of the people true desperation and despair, I couldn’t help but think of of Jesus in Matthew 9:36-38.

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. ³⁸“Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

And then we came to the home of Ennis – and my eyes were opened once again to … To Be Continued :)

We shared a passionate day of worship and celebration of the one true God with Fountain of Hope Church on Sunday, followed by a time of fellowship and food with Bishop Julius and his wonderful family, and with the 12 girls at the Fountain of Hope home. I am always challenged and encouraged in my heart when I experience worship around the world with my brothers and sisters in Christ – the joy and the praise is overflowing.

 We also got to know Antony and Doreen who are the house parents for the girls, and prayed with Doreen who is sick with Malaria . Please keep them in your prayers.

We spent today at Fountain of Hope Church in Nairobi. We had the privilege of serving 60-75 kids in the from the community that come to the church every Saturday for food, fun, dancing, singing, playing soccer, and a short teaching time by the children’s pastor, Samuel.

We also got to meet Antone & Doreen, the house parents in the Fountain of Life Church home. They have a 4 month old, Nathaniel, and 12 orphans girls from the community that live with them in the new church home. We were able to pray for Doreen as she is sick with Malaria – as I put my hand on her shoulder I felt the fever through her shirt. Pray for her as she battles this illness, and tries to still be a mom to 13 kids.

Later we walked the 5-10 minutes to the slum behind the church and had a chance to see “Mamma” Betty, a woman from the church that lives there and has a school and pre-school – 80 kids in 2 adjoining rooms that are about 10×12. The church supports her and one of the pastors, goes in to help teach the children a couple days a week. We also got to meet a couple of the HIV+ orphans in the slum that the church is supporting by providing food and medical assistance to the children and their extended families that have taken them in.

Tomorrow we head back to Fountain of Hope Church for a full day of worship and spending time with the staff and the children.

Sorry, no pictures right now as internet is not able to upload them.

We arrived safely last night although I was delayed 4 hours due to an accident on the runway. I praise God for an absolutely beautiful morning – the birds are singing, the sun is shining bright, the coolness of the morning and the rain from last night dripping from the stunning variety of trees and flowers as I look out the window.

Myself, along with John, Kolbi, & Dee Dee from the Heights Church will be going later today to Fountain of Hope Church in Nairobi to see and help serve in their feeding program to orphans and needy children in their community.

Dan and Alisha arrive this evening. Pray for rest for the whole team tonight as we had a long journey and a very late night.

Mark’s wife Julie added: The accident on the runway was not Mark’s plane, but a cargo plane. Mark’s plane was rerouted somewhere to refuel and wait until the Nairobi runway had cleared before they were sent back.

I am waiting in DC for my flight(s) to Kenya to lead a World Orphans vision trip to visit and spend a week with 3 of our partner churches. Memories from my March trip are still vivid and close to my heart – of individuals like Ennis and her son Morgan, living in the Muthare slums, both fighting the effects of HIV. Of Paul, who was severely beaten during the riots of a year ago. Of Victoria, John, Elizabeth, and Massey – 4 orphans living in the slum behind Fountain of Hope church.

God, continue to open my heart and mind to the plight, suffering and the desperation of so many living without hope. Let me weep with those who weep & rejoice with those who rejoice. Give me eyes to see what you see and what you desire. Give me opportunities to share your love in tangible ways with the precious people you have created in your own image and likeness. Let me experience more of you and understand and fear and follow you more tomorrow than I do today.

The message I heard Francis Chan speak at the Catalyst Conference in 2007 had a huge impact on me.  One statement he made has stuck with me – “If Jesus had a church in my town, my church would be bigger”.

He was not bragging, but his rationale was that he realized (as most churches should) that we do not call people to the same type of commitment of discipleship and sacrifice that Jesus called people to.

He talked about how the more he read the Bible and considered what it was saying, the more he realized that there is a huge chasm between what true Biblical Christianity is (as in the Church of Acts) and what most of us in America experience with church. 

How can we read the words of of the gospel and see the way Jesus and the disciples lived, and then think that those are just a bunch of stories about how the radical Christians of 2000 years ago lived?  No, in fact the way they lived was a model for how we should live, what we should do and be concerned/consumed with.

If you have not read the book “Crazy Love”, take this opportunity to download the audio version of the book for free while it lasts.

Go to    http://christianaudio.com/free_download.php

and follow the directions for the free audio download. Add the download format of Crazy Love to your cart and enter the coupon code JUL2009 when prompted during checkout.