Charity's Blog

My kids, missionaries.

I am so blessed with my kids... how they are so involved.

Recent comments:

"We have the hugest family. Like 50 kids or something..." Elijah

When reprimanded for playing basketball AGAIN... "I can't get anything done. Nobody else lives in an orphage you know. What do you expect?" Noah

"I NEED to take care of the babies, mom." Sarah Joy

"I could pull his tooth, mom. I really could." Merry Faye

 

He Cares for Me

A mother’s heart is full of dreams and hopes.

With each child, the dreams multiply and sometimes her heart feels as though it will explode with all the desires. Not just her desires, but she carries the yearnings and prayers of her little ones as well.

I have five children all of whom are full of energy and vigor. They keep me busy with every day life, never mind their dreams of playing in the NBA, owning a sports car, or being a doctor. Their dreams become my prayers. My prayers never far from my thoughts.

Sometimes I cry out to God in the early hours of the morning when the sun is just tickling the horizon. My heart is too heavy, too burdened, and there is not enough time to “present my requests”. Some mornings all I can do is hold my cup of coffee and thank God for another day and the strength I had to get through yesterday.

Three weeks ago, the cold of winter seemed to have finally melted and spring was daring to announce her arrival. I realized my kids would now be playing outside and I had thought how fun it would be to have a trampoline for them to jump. They love trampolines. I made some calls, checked the internet, even inquired about renting a trampoline and realized there was no way we could afford one. I was disappointed- Really disappointed.

You know how it is, a thought or dream in a moment of passion becomes a prayer, almost muttered, but somehow sincerely pours from the heart. I asked God for a trampoline.

And then I forgot about it.

Then, last week, someone gave us a trampoline. Out of the blue. Gave us a beautiful, bouncy trampoline.

How good my heavenly Father is to care about something so little in the grand scheme of life…

Something so seemingly insignificant. I don’t know why I desired that trampoline so badly but I do know the tears that fill my eyes as I watch my children jumping and laughing, are real and the joy that fills my heart is from my dear Father who cares about the little things. He cares for the little sparrows that fill my trees in the early morning. How much more He cares for me.

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly  Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matthew 6: 26

Wooden Jewelry Boxes

I was just a little girl and I remember the mystery of the suitcases at the door… the weeks of waiting for his return. The many questions of why, where. And the mysterious wooden jewelry boxes I got after every trip. I don’t remember feeling bitter or angry at his absence but a sense of curious wonderment. What did my dad do? What was it like? Where did he go?
I do remember determining within myself as a young girl, that I would someday go with him to India. He seemed to love it so, I wanted to see it myself. I wanted to travel and teach too. I read books on other lands, dreamed of other languages, and wanted to be a missionary.
Today, as I watch him begin to speak, I am mesmerized by the dance of words between the translator and him. My dad is comfortable, speaking with authority, teaching with passion. The magic I dreamed of is before me. The dark brown faces of the pastors intently listening, trying to glean all they can from this zealous foreigner.
Though I have mostly been ignored in this male dominant culture, I have met many of the people my dad has fostered friendship with for 25 years. I have heard him introduced as “the friend of India” to many pastors; the heartfelt reception, the love, the respect, the gratefulness these Indian men have for my dad.
And I gain another insight into my own life, my own dreams, desires and motivations, and values. I smile as I look at the wooden jewelry boxes for my own two little girls in my suitcase…

India

I have been in India for a week with my dad… it has been wonderful and amazing. It is so different from what I live in in the Philippines- some of it so much better, some a little disturbing… I will send out a few emails about this trip. Enjoy.