2014, this blog may be more for me than anyone else.

It's hot here! Which is weird for us Americans living in the Southern Hemisphere. It doesn't "feel" like the Christmas or end of the year season. But, it is.

Which makes me think lots of things don't always "feel" right but it doesn't mean that it isn't happening or right. This last year was chalk full. We packed it tight. We really lived it. I actually wasn't excited about the start of 2014, I didn't "feel" like going back to school or "feel" like taking a 2 month cross boarder outreach. Now I can't imagine not having done all of that. It stretched me, in my thinker, in my core, physically, mentally and spiritually and it was a good thing. I came out a bit more refined (on the inside).

Sometimes it feels surreal that we were in the Middle East when Isis was starting their brutal attack on Iraq...with our children in tow! We witnessed salvations, prayed with countless Muslims, heard horrific accounts from Syrian families. We also had a peace that passes understanding moment when the Muslim brotherhood came against us, but God saved us. This just happened a few months ago. Time keeps on going.

Then in October we had the immense pleasure of stepping into leading Children of Promise. Sometimes nothing "feels" right when you work in a culture that is so different than your own. Injustice is in your face daily and your belief system seems to be rubbed by sandpaper on a day to day. I can't say it's been easy but it has been God. I see Him in the unlikely places in Masi. He seems to be everywhere, just give Him an opportunity and He is there. If we go out to share or pray, He is always there. When I don't "feel" right He is there.

2014, was a year that didn't always "feel" good or go my way. It was painful, it was hard, it was full of great sacrifice, it hurt but God...He showed up. He provided every month, He saved our lives, He allowed me to see a devout Muslim man come to Christ before my eyes, He taught my hands and feet to be more like His, He helps me hug and love children who need Jesus, He gives me love for the unloveable, He stirs my heart to change and shows me my need for an even deeper continuing change. He very practically helps me overcome my germ issues and go into dirty, smelly places at times. He gave me precious friends that are like family.

We aren't anyone special, we just are a normal family that decided to go and did. We suck on a daily basis. We parent badly, our kids are not perfect, but we love Jesus and I pray that that one thing shows. We love Jesus! In any circumstance He is always right and makes all situations right, even the ones that don't  "feel" right.

We had lots of memory making things happen this year. We traveled to many Countries, Brie graduated from High school, our dogs had puppies, Drew feels like he is called into missions, Gabe has worked hard at his skating and is getting so good, Eli is a natural surfer and is in the water every day honing his craft, Finley is a delight and one of the most clever little people I've ever encountered. Shelby and I are blessed to have this family as our little tribe and we get to do life with them. 2015 May take our family in different directions but one thing I know is God will be there and He holds our hearts and lives.

Be blessed this New Year. I pray we can all live deeply and in the present, that we can live the life we are called to live. That we can show Jesus wherever we live and to those around us. Happy New Years friends! 

With much love,

Andrea 

Lowlights

2014 is rapidly winding down.  This year has been a bit of blur, but alas, we look to 2015 with great expectation.  Many, while reflecting on 2014 will share some highlights.  These are great and I have many highlights from this year, but I also have some lowlights from this year.  So, although not your typical end of year reflection, here are some of mine. They are not events in particular, rather some areas of my life I would like to improve on.

I struggle with anger.  I yell a lot.  I don’t know if its a family curse or what, but it has been a pretty constant struggle.  You can ask my neighbor.  We live in fairly close proximity.  My friend Phil Pechonis shared a story once of him and his wife fighting early on in their ministry while they were living in community with others.  They would whisper to each other, “I hate you”.  While the other would whisper back, “Well I hate you too.”  I often times, will feel like this, but often unable to contain myself to a whisper.  This year seems like it was a bit worse than normal.  For 2015, I want more joy.

I struggle with worry, which usually leads to stress.  99% of this stems from finances.  We have seen God do amazing things this year in our finances.  Almost every month we had a short fall, but every month the perfect amount would come in.  EVERY MONTH!  In addition we owed $6000 for school fees this year and another $6000 in airline tickets for outreach as part of school.  God provided for all of it.  I have seen him come thru over and over and over again.  But for some reason, I still worry.  Still doubt.  Still stress.  Still try and figure things out on my own.  For 2015, I want to trust him more.  No matter what the circumstances.

I am a fault finder.  Its my default mode.  No matter what is done, I will first notice what hasn’t been done.  This is great maybe if you're a consultant or something, but when you're a father, missionary, and a husband, its a terrible default mode.  There is so much positive happening all around that its a shame to always waste time focusing on the negative.  For 2015, I want to be able to see the good, in things and in people and to also be able to affirm those things.  

This is no New Years resolution, but just things that I want to work on.  There were lots of amazing things that happened in 2014 and  I am looking forward to lots of changes in me for 2015.  

Happy New Year Friends

Discipleship is messy...

Today I posted that Discipleship can sometimes be a messy thing.  Here's a little background to that statement.

I work with Isithembiso, we work with children in a township here in South Africa called Masiphumelele.  We have sponsored kids, kids who come to our clubs, and then generally will help anyone with a need.  Fires are very common in Masi.  Shacks built in close proximity to each other, with no electricity.  Fires are used for cooking and heating.  Accidents happen and fueled by our South African wind, can cause damage to several different families.  Recently there was a small fire that destroyed 6 houses.  We had friends in our church whose family lost there house so we decided to go and see if we could help.  While we were there we met another family that lost everything.  A woman with 4 children.  Two of them were still in school, two them were older an moved out already.  We prayed with her and said we would get some new uniforms for her kids.  As a team, we decided to do a little bit more.  We took a food parcel to her the next day and ordered a new bed for her.

I went by a few days later.  Her bed was ready and I wanted to let her know so she could arrange for it to be delivered.  It was late.  I was stopping by on my way home.  She was standing outside when I pulled up.  I brought the guy with me who made the bed.  There was one slight problem.  She had been drinking.  Maybe to much.  She was having trouble walking.  Her English is better than my Xhosa, but we were having trouble communicating.  They made plans to deliver the bed.  I couldn't leave without stating the obvious.  I asked, "Have you been drinking?"  She answered, just a little.  I said no worries, just slow down, and be careful please.

It's like a punch in the gut.  You want the people your helping to make steps in the right direction. This was not the right direction.  However, discipleship is not always easy.  We are discipling people towards Jesus.  Sometimes that process is two steps forward and one step back.  Sometimes it's one step forward and two back.

We were given a few donations for the fire victims.  Today I went thru them and sorted some things for this lady and her family.  I wanted her to know that know matter what God loved her.  That just because of her drinking we were not going to stop helping her.

We had a great visit.  She apologized and was a bit embarrassed by her behavior which she said totally unsolicited.  We will continue to disciple her to Jesus.  Her and hopefully her family.  Please continue to pray for them.

If you are busy making disciples, there will be days where you are disappointed, even frustrated.  Hang in there.  Stay with it.  Today may feel like your going backwards, but tomorrow could be a turning point.  

Isithembiso

WELCOME TO OUR NEW DIRECTORS! It is with great joy that I pass on the program this week to Shelby and Andrea Render, our new wonderful directors! As I announced in our last newsletter, I am moving back to the States and handing the program to the Renders and our amazing Children of Promise team. I can not begin to describe how perfectly the Lord has provided for Children of Promise throughout this process of transition. I have spent the last weeks with Shelby and Andrea, training them, showing them the ins and outs of the program, and introducing them to the families and kids clubs. The more I spend time with them, the more I am overwhelmed with thankfulness that they have come to lead the program. They have such a heart for the vulnerable, they are amazing parents and know how to create family well, they are passionate, skilled in administration and just joyful people to be around. What an extravagant blessing they are! In the last year our team has grown and become strengthened in so many ways, as our local leaders have stepped up and taken more and more ownership. I am so confident that the Lord is taking Children of Promise into a season of even more breakthrough and fruitfulness! The week before last was a very special time as Kalyn, our former director, was able to be with us in our meetings as I was passing the torch onto the Renders. We had good times of praying and sharing together, thanking God for where he has brought us and charging the team to carry it on even further! God is so faithful. AN INTERVIEW WITH THE RENDERS I did a little interview with Shelby and Andrea so you can get to know this amazing family better! Tell us about you and your family. This month Shelby and I have been married 20 years. We have 5 children; Brie 18, Drew 17, Gabe 13, Eli 12 and Finley 3. We met at Bible college and have always been in ministry one way or another. Missions was always something on our heart even before meeting each other. Where are you guys from and how did you end up in South Africa? Shelby is originally from Indiana and Andrea from Florida. We were raising our family in Tennessee. 14 years ago was the first time we spoke about missions in South Africa, but it was 5 years ago when we knew that it was a calling for us and we needed to listen to God and go. We have now been here for 4 years. How do you see God using your gifts in Children of Promise and in Masi? Before we moved to South Africa, God spoke to us that we would be serving "the least, the last and the lost" and we had a heavy burden for the orphaned and vulnerable children. We are so thankful to be able to come into this team and be family with them. This program has been a dream in our heart for a long time, to get to step into this is an answered prayer. We as a family are uniquely equipped for working and loving these children. What are you most excited about in this new season? I feel excited that God birthed this calling 5 years ago and now we actually get to step into it. We are humbled and thankful for God's faithfulness. We are so excited to get to know each family and child, and begin deep relationships. What is your family’s favorite fun thing to do together? We are beach people. We each love the sun and the ocean. Andrea grew up surfing and now Shelby and the boys all surf. Brie works at the local surf shop and Finn loves to play in the sand and the water. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Although I am leaving, the finances, communication and the program in Masi will all run as normal. The locals are all remaining on the team and will continue to run the gatherings, clubs and mentorship in Masi. Mama Wendy is currently going through All Nations field CPx training, a new 3 week intensive church planting training. She has 2 more weeks of the training and then will be back in Masi. We are so excited for Mama Wendy to grow even more in her relationship with Jesus and to be equipped even more to reach her community! Shelby will be the point person for communication. You can continue to send your emails to our Children of Promise email account-Childrenofpromiseafrica@gmail.com. I will continue to check the account for a while to finish any email conversations that are in progress. Kalyn and I will continue to be a resource and will mentor the team from afar. If you would like to contact me, my personal email iswhitneyelise211@gmail.com. Please feel free to send us any questions or concerns you might have! Again, I am so excited for the future of the program. The Father has provided so abundantly by bringing the Renders to this team and raising up our local leaders! He is so good! It has been such a joy and honor to partner with you these last almost five years to reach the children in Masi. These children and this community will forever be in my heart. I am leaving with great sadness, but also with joy knowing the Father will finish what he has started. There is so much more ahead for Children of Promise and I am so excited to see it unfold! Richest Blessings and much thankfulness, Whitney Caldwell

su casa no es mi casa

Wednesday is our outreach day.  We pick a certain area or sometimes even select certain people that we need to go visit and pray for.  I have been into the wetlands a handful of times now, but never all the way to the back.  Where the actual wetlands are.  Many years of building on the wetlands have "raised" the actual level of the ground about a foot or so above the actual water level.  As you get back towards the back there has been less building up and so the houses are actually built over the water as well as the walkways between the houses.  There are some drainage pipes and ditches here.  I don't know where the water comes from, but they are always full.  Actually they almost always appear to be stagnate.  It is not the smell of sewage, but the smell of foul, stagnate water that always seems to permeate these water ways.  It's a hot day.  That doesn't help the smell.  Occasionally the South East wind blows and cools things off a bit.  I see the tall green grass that signals we are coming to the end of the houses and where the wetlands start.  We drop down to water level and the trail becomes a bit of a muddy mess.  Thankful that I remembered shoes this morning and not my normal flip flops.  The smell is still there.  We are walking next to the still water, black water.  We eventually step up to some raised walkways between the houses.  They seem unsteady, like any step could be the one that you leads you down into the water.  Its still there.  Each of the cracks or holes you can look down and see the black water.  The smell is also still there.  We make a few twist and turns.  I am hopeful that I am not the biggest guy that has walked here.  Trusting that these planks will hold me.  Last thing I want to do is loose my group that I am with in this maze of twist and turns.  This would be the ultimate harvest maze to try and get out of.  We find the house and enter.  Also a raised floor above the water.  As I enter the house moves.  As my friend comes in I feel the house move again.  It is similar to kids who have built their own tree house.  My eyes adjust from the bright sun to the dim lit room.  Its technically a home, but suffice to say there are bathrooms bigger than these houses.  It is the width of two twin beds pushed up against the far wall.   They sit atop milk crates. Its almost double the length of the beds. There is a dresser table against one wall.  Designed to be a place for women to sit and do their make up.  The mirror is cracked.  Shoes are stored below as well as a tub for the baby.  On the other wall is a hutch.  It serves as the kitchen.  It's broken chip board mostly.  Not even sturdy enough to sit on.  This could very well be the cupboard from the nursery rhyme starring old mother Hubbard.  Its bare.  They walls are made from cardboard.  There are large circle disc about the size of half dollars on the floor.  I trace them up to the ceiling, it's sunlight, peaking thru a line of small wholes in the roof.  Great for natural light like today, but what about winter when it rains.  A dirty bean bag sits in the middle of the room.  They only thing apart from the beds to sit on.  I squat on the floor.  Its covered in plastic.  Maybe that helps with the smell as I notice it smells a little less at the moment.

She lives here with her 4 children.  I don't even know her name, but refer to her as so and so's mom. Why is she here.  Where is the father?  Or is it fathers?  She lives off a child grants for the children.  Its not much.  $30 buck a child maybe.  $100-$120 a month.

Where do you begin?  How do you help.  Sure if it was one house it would be easy.  Its a sea of houses.  More people coming from other parts of Africa to come and work here in South Africa every day.  How bad must things be elsewhere that this better?

We pray.  We pray for work.  Pray for God to reveal himself to her.  Pray for husbands to raise up and take their place.

This is what we do.  We visit.  We point to Jesus.  We disciple.  In the midst of the junk.  We believe God will meet people right where they are.  We believe God sees, we believe God cares, and we believe God is compassionate and loving and so we will continue to go where he leads.

Shelby

Shelby and Andrea are the directors of Isithembsio (Children of Promise).  Our mission is to love and care for the vulnerable in practical ways.  We mentor, advocate, help in crisis, and assist with meeting basic needs; such as food, clothes, proper shelter and school uniforms.  Our biggest passion is that the least of these will be leading their generation in following Jesus with transformed lives.  Discipleship and creating a community of Jesus followers is foundational to all that we do.  For more information on Isitithembiso, check out www.childrenofpromiseafrica.com.  For more on Shelby, check out www.therenderfam.com

 

Treasure Hunting

Treasure hunting is one of the tools we use when doing outreach in our local communities.  The basic principle is spending time in prayer before going out into the streets. Asking God to specifically speak to you about who he wants you to find and talk with, pray with, or share with. I have seen him answer in different ways. Sometimes a name, sometimes a place, maybe a color, maybe all of the above. Today we were praying in our Masi meeting before going into our community. I got a picture of one of these little red motorcycles that the little kids scoot around on. We recently bought one for Finley.  I am a little new at this and sometimes even a little nervous to share things. "What if Im wrong?"  So instead of sharing, I wrote it down in my diary.  Kids red plastic motorcycle.  We walked around a bit.  Saw a few kids, a few people. Saw two men sitting under some shade working on something. A big pile of yellow metal buckets in the front yard. The team had all walked past and almost walked by when I looked down and noticed a kid sitting on a red plastic motorcycle. I called over one of my teammates and showed them what I wrote down. She immediately knew what it meant and began speaking to the men in Xhosa. I dont speak Xhosa,  but after awhile both men stood up and took off there hats. We prayed with them, that they would find work and be able to make some money.

I love being able to shake someone's hand and say God cares about you.  He brought me here to tell you that.  He wanted me to find you.  Hes after you.

Needless to say I will come back next week and see if we can continue this relationship.

God cares about the people of the world. All of them.  Wherever you are, you can ask Him and he will show you.  Write it down so you can show the person.  We have the privelege of being his hands and feet in this broken world. 

Whose up for some treasure hunting?

Fresh Coat

We were asked to help out with one of our new trainings at All Nations.  They called it the village experience.  The students would be asked to enter a "village".  They were given a map and told they would have one day to enter the village and begin making disciples.  The only rule was they could not lie.  The "village" was other All Nations staff.  We had a village chief and a sangoma.  We were a matriarchal society where the men served the women.  We had costumes.  We prayed, worshipped, and made sacrifices to our God, the snake.  We even had our own made up language.  It was a really fun experiment.

Most of the morning was just introductions.  They were trying to figure out who we what and what we believed.  We slowly began to pick up some English words, but more often then not would just say them and laugh.

We worked a little faster than you would experience in a real village as we wanted them to practice all facets of making disciples.  At one point we were sitting and listening to them tell us about their God (we had a translator), they mentioned the word repent.  One of us repeated the word back to them but changed it to repaint.

I sat and thought about that for a minute.  Repent and Repaint.  I haven't gotten to much into the origins of the words, and maybe its a bit of stretch and I just had too much time on my hands, but I like the similarities.  Repent is to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (The Greek word used most in the New Testament for "repent" means "a change of mind")   Repaint is to simply paint something again.  Maybe it was old and chipping, maybe you just didn't like the color, but for whatever reason you are going to stop with the current color and change to a new one.  Repenting is very similar. Maybe you have made some really big mistakes, maybe something small, but for whatever reason you want to stop and change the action or behavior.

Start each day with a fresh coat of paint.

"Repentance is as much a mark of a Christian, as faith is. A very little sin, as the world calls it, is a very great sin to a true Christian."
Charles Spurgeon

Round Trip

Home again.  We have officially graduated our CPX (Church Planting Experience).  Successfully completed our 2 month trip to the middle east.  We are home, and it is cold.

Sitting here, looking back it was a very special time, a bit of a whirlwind, but as a family it was really good for us.  We are now connected with a healthy church family.  We have some great lifelong friendships. Our kids have made some amazing friends.  We are connected to a mission training/sending organization. This year we will watch 20+ people get launched into the nations.  At age 2 Finley has more stamps in her passport than I did at 30.  We made some incredible lifelong memories.  We were even able to check off some big bucket list items while we were there.  

Its difficult to try and recap a 2 month mission trip.  There were so many highs and a handful of lows that it is difficult to summarize them all.  The middle east is a hard place and if you know missionaries there, they deserve some extra prayer and support.  The stories of the Syrian families are heartbreaking.  This is war that has no end insight and has already displaced millions of people.  Here is a great article explaining Syrian refugee crisis.  What can we do to help?  We are so far away.  First and foremost pray for peace in Syria. Second, go on a mission trip, see for yourself.  We have a project here called Serve Syria where we can host teams in the middle east.  We will send someone to meet you on arrival, spend time training you in regards to culture, etc, and then begin helping Syrian families.  Small groups of 5-7 are best, but we can accommodate larger teams if necessary.  Thirdly, raise awareness and raise funds.  There are lots of groups working on the ground that need support. Share and update your friends via social media as to what is happening.  

During one part of our stay, we went to a border town called Mafraq.  Originally 60,000, Jordanian people, it is now close to 150,000 due to the influx of Syrian refugee.  Close by, is one of the larger refugee camps with another 100,000+ refugees.  There is a church there that had a heart to help the Syrians.  Their plan was they would meet the families and give them a welcome pack.  It was all the basics needed; mattress, blanket, pillows, stove, gas bottle, rugs, fan.  A few creature comforts, but they thought if we can just help them sleep and eat.  3 years later they are still doing welcome packs.  They estimate they have given out over 75,000 mattress. We got to ride along and help distribute these packs.  Some families had only been in the country for 5 days and had nothing.  This church is most Syrian Families first point of contact outside of the refugee camp.  They are doing so much, but they are only one church among so many.  

Here is a quick video that recaps some parts of our trip. Again it is difficult to summarize 2 months, but here is a glimpse of some of the faces and places.  If you would like more info on serve Syria or some of the projects that we worked with, just email me.  We will be posting some of the stories in the next weeks and also sending out a newsletter update.  If you dont get those, please be sure and send me you email.  

Thanks

Orientation week

Week one of CPX is behind us. Like most schools, the first week was primarily just orientation. There are 32 people from all around the world that have come together in beautiful Cape Town. There are lots of families and lots of children. So what is CPX and why are we doing it. One of the biggest things is its a right of passage. Everyone that volunteers with All Nations long term has at some point gone thru CPX. We would love to keep volunteering with them here, so we are doing the course. There are 2 main focus's at CPX, church planting and discipleship.  More time will be spent in discipleship. We will break into groups of 7-8 and do home church together as well as 2 days a week go into our local communities and practice making disciples. Very excited to learn more about this. Did you know that the great commission could be fulfilled in as little as 37 years if Christians would agree to disciple just one person each year. Check out this video.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ums9X9xJrZA

Crazy right.  That's why I am super excited about learning how to be discipled and make disciples. They are also a passionate group of people serious about going to the unengaged and unreached people groups of the world.  Are you or someone you know praying about going to the nations.  All nations has training centers in Kansas City, Cape Town, and Taiwan.  Get more info here:
http://allnationsworldwide.org

Blessing friends
Shelby

The Bread Box

I am constantly finding myself in a season of learning. I guess I forget a lot & my Dad is having to reinforce previously learned lessons back into me. We have had to trust The Lord for complete provision for 3.5 years now. We cannot earn a penny, we trust that God will stir peoples hearts & Thru them we will be provided for. Well as of Jan we lost about $1700 of monthly support!!! We had some people sign up and now we are just $1500 down a month. I have to say my faith has been         S T R E T C H E D!

The end of Dec we had a friend donate $1000 & a few people sent in last of the year donations and miraculously we had January covered. But, by mid Jan we had nothing for Feb. Shelby was in the Middle East and I was holding down the fort at home. It was Summer holidays here and all of the kids in Kommetjie were at my home. I was feeding everyone & loving it, but the cost is high! This is a ministry I believe God has given me & as we lost more money He brought more mouths to feed...so I feed! We typically have between 11- 14 for dinner and way more at lunch and grazing thru out the day.

In the midst of all of this fun our bread kept getting squished. We have a really tiny pantry & it was getting shoved in and ruined and I do NOT like to waste food. One day mid Jan I had been grocery shopping and as I was walking out walked by a home store and there sat a bread box. I felt like the Lord told me to go buy it. I was quick to say, but Lord if we don't make money & have to leave then it's one more thing I have to get rid of. I was IMMEDIATELY convicted. You see I know God has called us and He wants us here and He will keep us here. I was just whining. I left the shops and did not buy the bread box!

The drive home I was convicted that I should have gotten it. I even wondered why buying a bread box was such a big deal. It's a small thing, it shouldn't matter this much. By the time I was home I
knew that first thing in the morning I was going back and buying a bread box! The Lord told me to and even though it seemed small I needed to obey...duh!

Next morning I was off and bought the bread box.  I was so thankful cause I knew The Lord was blessing me, He saw my frustration over squished bread & He loved me enough to let me get one. What I didn't know is that when I got home and looked at my sad bank account it wasn't so sad anymore. The exact amount we needed for school books was deposited, $600 toward Feb was there and we found out that someone was donating $1000. That means all of Feb was covered and I could buy school. The next day someone gave me money to buy a large fridge. Mine was a tiny miniature one & they knew how many people I was feeding.

Here's the lesson that I feel like God was teaching me. It's important to mind in the little things, even for big Mommies :) he showed me that once I did obey He lavished everything that was an immediate need on us. This is not a lesson on name it claim it! Because we live a lifestyle of complete dependence it was a lesson on obedience for me and a lesson to not worry. He's called me to obey and He will do the rest

This month we are in Feb and have nothing for March. That familiar panic tries to raise its head and I push it down with the verses The Lord sets before me...don't worry about what you will eat or drink for He knows your need even before you do. He whispers trust me, he shows me in Exodus how He stirred the hearts of the ones He called to give, with the Israelite. I wonder who it is He's stirring right now and stop to pray for them. I'm thankful! I'm dependent! I have a great bread box that daily reminds me God ALWAYS shows up, always provides and just asks me to obey in the small things.

Oh how He loves you and me!

Andrea

KomSkom

We live in a small rural beach village called Kommetjie.  There are approximately 900 homes in the village.  It is crazy beautiful here.  Oceans, mountains, and amazing people.  There is a group of local skater surf kids, they call themselves, KomSkom.  After 2 years of living here, our kids have found themselves to be part of this

amazing group of kids.  Recently, a friend of our, Dougal Patterson, also a Kommetjie local and professional photographer decided to tell their story through his lens.  Here is a few photos from the day, but please check out his website for more of a day in the life of a komskom.  Click  HERE to go to the website.