Water, Water, Water!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's 4 a.m. and as I lay here in bed, I can't stop crying...

Ironically, it's water on my brain that is making the tears fall. We are not talking about Hydrocephalus (literal water on the brain) but for the past week or so Water, or lack of it, has been very heavily on my mind.

We are experiencing a water crisis here in Cameroon. In some ways there is always a water crisis because there is a lack of accessibility to clean water in this country. The water is here under the ground but ways to get to it are few and far between.

If you are fortunate to have access to Water in your home, it is rationed by the local government. In our case, we had water from 6 a.m. - 2 or 3 p.m. every other day. These days we  don't have water at all because a pipe burst sometime last week and has left our city without.

There is a part of me that wonders if it would really matter if the pipe had burst or not. As I ride in taxi's around town, I see lines of people sitting on empty water containers at public taps waiting on water to come. The taps in many areas are DRY, DRY, DRY. We are in dry season. A few weeks ago it rained for 3 days. This was the first rain since November. It hasn't rained since those glorious 3 days. It always looks as if it will but nothing comes of it.

So the past week has been all about where to get water, how much water we can get and using it in the most efficient ways possible so that it lasts as long as possible. What does this look like? We don't flush toilets unless we absolutely have to. I cook giant pots of food for both houses. My neighbors (fellow Missionaries) washed everyone's dishes in 2 houses and then used the rinse water to flush the toilet. We bathe as little as possible but as often as we can. Our floors are terribly dirty because we live at the top of an extremely dusty hill and carrying water in and out has increased the traffic but we aren't mopping right now. (that's a luxury) One of my fellow Missionaries drove around for more than 10 hours looking for water and bringing it back to our 2 houses. He carried gallons and gallons of water up the stairs and filled waiting buckets. I could go on and on...

On our last water day when water did not come yet again, we were talking back and forth to each other on facebook about our lack of water. I jokingly posted, who wants to donate to the "buy the missionaries a water tank fund?" At the time, we thought that the government was rationing water a bit more than usual. We were wrong.

In midst of running around looking for water and discussing ways to save it, I received a message from my Pastor. He wanted to know what was going on and if he could help. I outlined what was happening and gave him various solutions to "our problem." What happened next was nothing short of a modern day miracle. I went to bed after sending him the email. (It was late at night in Cameroon.) I woke up the next morning to news that the church had raised enough money for a water tank for BOTH of our houses and for barrels to store water until the crisis is over. All of this in a matter of hours while I was sleeping!

I was completely blown away. Don't get me wrong. This is pretty much normal behavior for my church family. When people are in trouble, they move. That's just who they are but for some reason this floored me. As I walked next door with my laptop in my hand, I couldn't speak. I told my fellow missionaries, look at this message. Are you serious? This is really happening? They know that they are helping us too?? Yep, it's real, it's happening and yes they understand that this is for all of us not just me. Wow, wow, wow was what I heard over and over. God you really are just that good is what we kept saying. I'm not sure why we were so surprised. We teach people everyday about how much God loves them and He's a good Father that will take care of His children. We know this but sometimes we forget.

So as I write this, there is a 2,000 liter water tank with a giant lock and chain around it, tied to our apartment building. (We don't want it stolen before it can be installed)

While I was out purchasing a water tank and the things necessary to make it work properly, one of my fellow Missionaries made a road trip to Douala because our ship had literally come in. People sent us things from America last November and we were finally able to pick them up. She came home with 8 boxes of canning jars for me and various donations for the kids in orphanages that I work with. I will now be able to teach people here how to preserve food and some very deserving kids will have underwear and socks. You have no idea how something so simple is so cherished here... Can you imaging not having water to drink or underwear to wear. It's a daily part of life here...

At one point I just sat on my chair and thanked God. He promised to take care of us? Why am I surprised? Why am I so fortunate? why did He choose me?

I woke up this morning with the same thoughts. While I'm grateful that we have a water tank, my mind can't stop thinking about all of the people who don't. When I went to the hospital yesterday afternoon, there was a line of buckets waiting at the tap that was dry... One woman sat there to be sure that as new people brought there buckets they took their rightful place in the line. I remembered my time living in the hospital with Achiever and having to pay someone to get buckets of water for us and bring them in because the taps were dry and we had been without water for days. In the 6 weeks or so that I lived in the hospital, I think the taps worked 5 or 6 days. When they came on people screamed and ran with their buckets. I remember one morning the water started flowing about 3 a.m. (Someone was sleeping outside) They were kind enough to come and wake people up because you never know how long the water will flow. People did not complain about being woken up, they danced, they sang and rejoiced as they filled their buckets.

This made me think about the Living Water. Jesus is the Living Water. He brings life to our dry souls. Without Him, we will die, literally and spiritually. Do we thirst for Him the way we thirst for physical water? Do we take Him for granted that He will always be there and assume our spiritual taps will never run dry? Do we wait until there is a shortage and there has to be an emergency filling of our spiritual tank? Do we rejoice with the opportunity to sit at His tap and get full? Don't wait until your soul has begun to wither and dry up. He is the LIVING WATER that will allow you to never thirst again but in order to never thirst, you have to DRINK!!

Christ loved us enough to die for us. He makes Himself available to us and chases after us. He won't force you to drink of the Living Water. We must make a choice. Will you drink or will you die?

The answers to all of my questions above have one simple answer. LOVE. I don't deserve anything God does for me. I don't have to do anything for it. He simply showers me with His love, because He's my Papa and He loves me.

I will continue to share His love with others and during the water crisis, I will take advantage of the opening I have to not only share the physical water that He has blessed us with... I will share about the LIVING WATER that will allow your soul to never thirst again.

Rozetta Baptist Church, I am eternally grateful to you for all that you do to show God's love to ME! You are one of a kind and I will never stop thanking God for putting you in my life. I am a better person because of all of you. In many ways, I had given up on people and their lack of love... You have demonstrated Christ's love in so many ways. Not only to me but to the community around you and Missionaries around the world.

Celebration Community Church - the sentiments are the same. Thank you for all the canning jars and supplies to teach the people of Cameroon.

Free Chapel Church - Singles in the Spirit Small Group, words cannot express. Thank you for all of the donations for the kids and the canning supplies and special thanks to Cynthia and Melissa for buying things, boxing it all up and driving all over Hotlanta to deliver them to the ship!

and many thanks to a special woman named Heather whom I have never met... Your gifts are amazing. Thanks for the canning stuff and the coffee! My fellow Missionary squealed with delight!

All of you are a blessing to me in so many ways. I don't know if words will ever be able to express the joy in my heart. So I sit here with tears in my eyes, so grateful that God would choose me and He would touch your hearts to partner with us here on the Mission field to share His wonderful Living Water with those around us!

Thank you! I love you all!

Beauty for Ashes

This has been an emotional week. I don't know that I can go into all the details to sum it up but I will share one story from the week.

I went to court in Cameroon for the first time. What an experience that was. The courthouse looks like a broken down building that we would have condemned in the U.S. Men and women sitting around in their black robes and fake George Washington wigs...scary It was an experience, I will leave it at that.

One of the inmates that I work with in the prison asked me to attend court to hear his sentencing. I wasn't sure why he wanted me there and what his expectations of me were, but he assured me that my presence alone would bring comfort to him, and he simply wanted someone else there to hear what the judge would say.

The Sunday prior to his sentencing, he asked me if I would do a favor for him. I looked at him quizzically and told him, it would depend on what he was asking. He asked if he could have the privilege of calling me mom. I was completely shocked. I asked what that meant. He said it was simply a sign of respect and it was the only thing he had to offer me. With tears in my eyes, I said yes. As I walked out of the jail, he called to me. "Mom you will come to court, yes??"  "Yes, I will be there."

So I prepared to go to court last Thursday morning. I arrived late because of transportation issues with other ministry that I'm involved in. By the time I arrived at the prison, the inmates going to court had been locked in a secure vehicle to take them there. This was new to me. Every other time I have seen inmates going to court, they walk with a few guards or the inmates themselves have to pay taxi fare to go. These particular inmates were "high risk" so they were in a very secure vehicle. I went to the guard to ask where the court was so that I could meet them there. He directed me and as I began to walk away, I heard frantic screams, "Mommy, Mommy, don't go!" I turned but could not see him, I simply responded, "I will meet you there. I am on my way to the courthouse, don't worry." There was absolute terror in his voice. I don't think I have ever heard an adult male so frightened and I wasn't quite sure what to do.

I made my way to the courthouse and stood outside, waiting for the prisoners to come. I stood there praying and I began to pace asking God, what do I do?, what does he need?, I am not equipped for this.

When the inmates arrived, they were in handcuffs and some in shackles. I had never seen Solomon in handcuffs and it literally broke my heart. The tears began to fall and I was again unsure of what I was doing there. I tried to collect myself to be strong for him.

We strolled to the courthouse "together." I sat in the courtroom opposite the inmates, so that he could see where I was. His eyes were red with tears. I have no idea how long he had been crying or all of the reasons why. He mouthed, Thank you, to me and my heart threatened to burst once more. My mind reeled, thank you for what? I haven't done anything. God help me to understand what is really needed here.

His case was the first called. The judge made a big show of reading through all of his paperwork from when he was first apprehended more than 2 years ago. I felt yucky listening and watching how much joy the judge seemed to take at talking about everything that had been done wrong. Solomon had told me his story of why he was there and what the judge said, matched almost exactly but it was the way that the judge took delight discussing it that made me a little bit crazy.

Solomon continued to turn around to look at me. I mouthed, it's o.k. I am praying. You are fine, you are strong. He had previously told me that he was ready to serve whatever sentence was given him. He said that coming to Prison actually changed his life because it was here that he met the real Jesus. He didn't think he would even still be alive if he hadn't come.

As the judge finished, he told Solomon that he could speak. Solomon was very humble and thanked the judge, told him once again that he was sorry for his crimes and grateful for the chance to be able to change his life. He said that he had learned many lessons while in prison.

Finally the judge pronounced his sentence. He was given four years and they deducted the 2.5 years that he has already spent in prison waiting for his sentence from this time. Salomon was overjoyed. He was previously worried about how long he would have, but the fact that he will get out and still be able to raise his young children, thrilled him.

He turned to me and smiled for the first time. When he got back to his seat, he put his hands in the prayer position and again mouthed thank you to me. I was so overwhelmed. I didn't know what to say or do. As I felt the tears start to form, I mouthed to him that I was leaving and I would see him next week.

My heart was un-done. I chose to walk and pray instead of getting in a taxi to my next destination.

The Lord reminded me of Isaiah 61 - where he promised Beauty for Ashes. I used to do a program for women who were hurting using these scriptures.

Do you think women are the only ones hurting, the Lord seemed to say to me. Do you think they are the only ones who need my comfort? I  began to weep. I didn't really have any answers. Of course, I know that isn't the case but sometimes, I forget.

We all need reminders sometimes. For me, I often wonder if what I'm doing is really making a difference. Sometimes, I feel as if I am not "working hard enough." I am not doing enough. There is much more that can be done. Most of the time I don't see the tangible results of what I do. I'm o.k. with that. I understand that I'm a seed planter and God brings the harvest. I may never know all that going to court or sharing time with inmates will do for them, but I do know what God is doing in me.

I love the changes that He's making in me and that He has given me a heart for hurting people. I admit, I don't always enjoy every aspect of ministry, but I enjoy knowing that God is healing the broken hearted, and freeing people from whatever prison they are in. And along the way, He continues to free me from the things that bind me.

Isaiah 61
Good News for the Oppressed
 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me,
      for the LORD has anointed me
      to bring good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
      and to proclaim that captives will be released
      and prisoners will be freed.
 2 He has sent me to tell those who mourn
      that the time of the LORD’s favor has come,
      and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.
 3 To all who mourn in Israel,
      he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
   a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
      festive praise instead of despair.
   In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
      that the LORD has planted for his own glory.

 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
      repairing cities destroyed long ago.
   They will revive them,
      though they have been deserted for many generations.
 5 Foreigners will be your servants.
      They will feed your flocks
   and plow your fields
      and tend your vineyards.
 6 You will be called priests of the LORD,
      ministers of our God.
   You will feed on the treasures of the nations
      and boast in their riches.
 7 Instead of shame and dishonor,
      you will enjoy a double share of honor.
   You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land,
      and everlasting joy will be yours.

 8 “For I, the LORD, love justice.
      I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
   I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering
      and make an everlasting covenant with them.
 9 Their descendants will be recognized
      and honored among the nations.
   Everyone will realize that they are a people
      the LORD has blessed.”

 10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God!
      For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
      and draped me in a robe of righteousness.
   I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit
      or a bride with her jewels.
 11 The Sovereign LORD will show his justice to the nations of the world.
      Everyone will praise him!
   His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring,
      with plants springing up everywhere.