He isn't just for this season He is for every season, day and moment. His road isn't easy, often is hard. His way is hardly ever our way and His time is most definitely not our time. Yet, He is the only reason we life and breath.
Our first Christmas away from home was bittersweet. Lovely because we are blessed to be with our family and we were blessed to see our children's happy faces. Bitter because we miss our families back home and know they miss us. Blessed because we know we have eternity with them because they know Jesus too.
Tomorrow we will continue with Jesus. Putting off our flesh and putting on Christ. Remembering that He died so that we may live and give our lives back to Him daily.
Merry Christmas and remember Jesus is the reason for everything!
Andrea and the Render gang
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Say hello to my little friends... who live in my backyard...eeek!
This morning started with Drew and I going outside to peg washing (hang our laundry). Drew yelled because he has kicked a frog, and he said it felt super gross. So, we set out to find it and it was huge and well hidden. We would have never seen it, if we were not looking for it. This made us start LOOKING... because what else have we been missing. We pegged our wash and then walked back really looking and we found a huge snail.
Then we noticed all these dirt mounds all over the ground so drew whacked one and a frog came out... but it scared him and he wacked the frog too (poor frog). The frog lived, but it was a nasty, globby frog with yellow spots on it's back. We heard he may be poisonous. I have to google him.
Those were the critters between my wash line and back door. That I saw, there's probably many more.
Here are some others we have found living around our home over the past few months.
Millipede? Centipede? I'm not sure what it is, but I bet it has pede in it's name. These are pretty big, but when you mess with them they roll into a ball. They dont hurt you!!!
what a beautiful color they are!
Then we noticed all these dirt mounds all over the ground so drew whacked one and a frog came out... but it scared him and he wacked the frog too (poor frog). The frog lived, but it was a nasty, globby frog with yellow spots on it's back. We heard he may be poisonous. I have to google him.
Those were the critters between my wash line and back door. That I saw, there's probably many more.
Here are some others we have found living around our home over the past few months.
Millipede? Centipede? I'm not sure what it is, but I bet it has pede in it's name. These are pretty big, but when you mess with them they roll into a ball. They dont hurt you!!!
This little guy usually climbs up the wall of my house, but today we found one inside...ewww! Anyway, you may want to avert your eyes to the next pictures because I think they are doing something private in these pics???? but I really dont know??? It looks like they should have some alone time.
This is one of the weirdest little things ever. I thought there was a small piece of bark in the house and went to sweep it out and noticed it moved. Upon further inspection I noticed it was NOT bark but some strange bark like "thing". What is it an insect?
It has a head like thing stick out from inside it's bark like outer shell... strange indeed!
The next is my favorite!!! (said in all sarcasm I can muster) My family and close friends will know how much this just kills me that this is living in the trees outside of my house. Oh, there is a good probability that they are also living in my attic... good times, good times.
This precious little guy is called the blue headed agama. They really are pretty... pretty scary! Their heads and bodies change all sorts of pretty shades of blue and orange/yellow when they are doing their little mating dance. We have lots of these. One day Drew and Gabe were climbing a tree and it ran over Gabe's hand and fell onto Drew's shoulder! If that would have happened to me I would have fallen out of the tree and met my demise. Hence, you will not find me climbing any trees! I was thinking about doing just that... really I was.
That is your nature walk through our yard. What do you think?
Blessings Friends,
Andrea
Cleaning out the Roundovale, Day 1
As you can probably imagine we were wondering what kind of critters we would see in here. We found rats, baby rats, lots of rat feces, spiders, roaches, and silver fish.
Shelby
Friday, November 19, 2010
Baptized into the ministry of snot...
I thought I should blog next about our orphanage. Oh, how I love all the kids there... but I need to start at the beginning. The second week we were here we ran a sports camp for the kids in the orphanage and in the township. I was super excited about going there for my very first time. I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but what I saw was NOT what I was expecting.
First we entered into a slum area, these are called townships. It was shocking, the homes are very poor, some are nothing more than shacks. It is scary.When we pulled up to the orphanage all of the children ran out to meet us. I couldn't wait to meet all of them, THEN I opened the car door.... what greeted me was the strong smell of urine and rotting garbage!!! The thought ran through my mind to quick close the car door and leave. What you all need to know about me is I am a terrible jerm a phobe, it is very true. Bad smells make me gag and I really just dont want anything jermy to touch me. Yep! The nasty truth about me.
The Lord showed up big time, first He just helped me out of the car. This is when a beautiful little girl ran up to me and put her precious face on my arm, she then wiped her snotty nose from the top of my arm all the way down to my wrist (Let that sink in for a minute). This is when the Lord said to me "Look at her, I love her so much and today you get to love her physically for me. Be my hands and love her." Amazingly, that is just what I did. This is how I was baptized into the ministry of snot.
Today, the orphanage is one of my favorite places to go. The children running next to our car, the hugs when we get out, the joy in their eyes when they see us. They are delightful and I am thankful that they get to see Jesus in us, and feel His love when we are around. I learn so much from them, they have nothing, yet find joy in small things. They have wonderful smiles and joy, there is always a song on their lips and a dance in their step.
Brie is amazing with the kids. They love her and she just shines with Jesus love to them. She will hug and
love on everyone equally. She is such a joy for me to watch, when she serves.
There is so much more to say about the orphanage and all we have going on there right now, but I wanted to give you a glimpse of how it all began. Praise the Lord He is faithful to us and meets us right where we need Him. He does not always call us to neat and tidy ministry, sometimes it is dirty, messy and snotty. I love how He gently reminds me that He is in control and it is not about what I like or want... simply put... His will be done. Obedience brings such joy that I should never doubt when He tells me to do something that tears at my flesh. I think He will probably continually be tearing back who we think we are to expose who we are suppossed to be. Praise Him He knows what He is doing and all His ways are good.
Blessings,
Andrea
First we entered into a slum area, these are called townships. It was shocking, the homes are very poor, some are nothing more than shacks. It is scary.When we pulled up to the orphanage all of the children ran out to meet us. I couldn't wait to meet all of them, THEN I opened the car door.... what greeted me was the strong smell of urine and rotting garbage!!! The thought ran through my mind to quick close the car door and leave. What you all need to know about me is I am a terrible jerm a phobe, it is very true. Bad smells make me gag and I really just dont want anything jermy to touch me. Yep! The nasty truth about me.
The Lord showed up big time, first He just helped me out of the car. This is when a beautiful little girl ran up to me and put her precious face on my arm, she then wiped her snotty nose from the top of my arm all the way down to my wrist (Let that sink in for a minute). This is when the Lord said to me "Look at her, I love her so much and today you get to love her physically for me. Be my hands and love her." Amazingly, that is just what I did. This is how I was baptized into the ministry of snot.
Today, the orphanage is one of my favorite places to go. The children running next to our car, the hugs when we get out, the joy in their eyes when they see us. They are delightful and I am thankful that they get to see Jesus in us, and feel His love when we are around. I learn so much from them, they have nothing, yet find joy in small things. They have wonderful smiles and joy, there is always a song on their lips and a dance in their step.
Such a sweet face!
This is Analise, I adore her! She calls me Mama.
This is Shelby and Mduzi spending some time together during the basketball camp. They are buddies.
This was one of my many new hairdos that day. Notice they dont have lot's of hair and I do, we played hair salon all day. This was one of the best gifts I could give them.
love on everyone equally. She is such a joy for me to watch, when she serves.
There is so much more to say about the orphanage and all we have going on there right now, but I wanted to give you a glimpse of how it all began. Praise the Lord He is faithful to us and meets us right where we need Him. He does not always call us to neat and tidy ministry, sometimes it is dirty, messy and snotty. I love how He gently reminds me that He is in control and it is not about what I like or want... simply put... His will be done. Obedience brings such joy that I should never doubt when He tells me to do something that tears at my flesh. I think He will probably continually be tearing back who we think we are to expose who we are suppossed to be. Praise Him He knows what He is doing and all His ways are good.
Blessings,
Andrea
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
We have internet.. let the blogging commence! Yeah!!!
Ok, where should we begin... ah yes, 2 months and 4 days ago we boarded a plane bound for South Africa (said in Abraham Lincoln's voice).... ok now you can read regular again. So after 2 all night flights and a 9 hr lay over in London we arrived... yippee!!!
The drive into our area was one I wont forget. I was very quiet, not normal, because I had to take everything in. There were these beautiful hills and mountains, but one thing was distracting, the little shacks of cardboard and metal that littered the hills. I couldn't get over the poverty. The little villages are called squater villages and what I didn't know is this would become a common sight.
Once, we got home our wonderful little body of believers sprang into action. They helped in any way they could. They drove us all over helping us pick up things for our home and taking us to the store. I am still very thankful for all that they did for us in those early days when we had absolutely nothing. They gave freely to us whatever we needed. Thank you Calvary Chapel 1000 Hills!!
First things first, this is our house:
This is the back yard.
There was a swing in the front yard, that the kids have really utilized!
Here is the front of our home. This is one of the porches that goes into the living area. And the cute baby is Eisley, we love her!
I'll upload more pics, but it takes FOREVER so that is it for tonight.
That is our house, now you can kinda picture where we are. The first month was pretty much just getting settled in. There are so many difference here that we have to get used to the way of life, the language and the people. This will probably take quite awhile, but I am enjoying getting to know our knew home.
Maybe next blog I'll tell you about our grocery stores... exciting times in SA!
Blessings,
Andrea
The drive into our area was one I wont forget. I was very quiet, not normal, because I had to take everything in. There were these beautiful hills and mountains, but one thing was distracting, the little shacks of cardboard and metal that littered the hills. I couldn't get over the poverty. The little villages are called squater villages and what I didn't know is this would become a common sight.
Once, we got home our wonderful little body of believers sprang into action. They helped in any way they could. They drove us all over helping us pick up things for our home and taking us to the store. I am still very thankful for all that they did for us in those early days when we had absolutely nothing. They gave freely to us whatever we needed. Thank you Calvary Chapel 1000 Hills!!
First things first, this is our house:
I'll upload more pics, but it takes FOREVER so that is it for tonight.
That is our house, now you can kinda picture where we are. The first month was pretty much just getting settled in. There are so many difference here that we have to get used to the way of life, the language and the people. This will probably take quite awhile, but I am enjoying getting to know our knew home.
Maybe next blog I'll tell you about our grocery stores... exciting times in SA!
Blessings,
Andrea
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Prayer request
Hey guys,
We are in need of your prayer and help. The vehicle we have is costing us way to much money in gas. We are trying to look for another car, that gets everyone in a seat belt and is more gas conscience, but we are finding that we cannot find anything for an even trade. Vehicles here are very expensive.
We either need a God car, that He just brings us to meet all of our needs for cheap. We also need to sell our car for what we are asking. Please pray that we find something to meet our needs in our price range, that is also safe.
We appreciate you guys praying for us!!!
Blessings,
Andrea
We are in need of your prayer and help. The vehicle we have is costing us way to much money in gas. We are trying to look for another car, that gets everyone in a seat belt and is more gas conscience, but we are finding that we cannot find anything for an even trade. Vehicles here are very expensive.
We either need a God car, that He just brings us to meet all of our needs for cheap. We also need to sell our car for what we are asking. Please pray that we find something to meet our needs in our price range, that is also safe.
We appreciate you guys praying for us!!!
Blessings,
Andrea
Thursday, November 11, 2010
waiting
We are still waiting for our very own internet at our home, but today I am at a neat little cafe using their internet bar. How cool, I almost feel like I'm at home, until I look our the window :)
I miss blogging so very much, it was one of my favorite things and I think of all the blogs I will do when we finally get internet and I can type them out whenever I want. Oh the tales I will tell.
Recently I feel like we have been in Egypt during the plagues... except on a much smaller scale. The bugs are everywhere, regular ants, FLYING ants and some BIG frogs. The flying ants come out at night by the thousands ( I am not kinding, thousands) so we have to run around and close all the doors and windows, but then they try and come under the doors, so we have to shove a towel under the door so they cant get in. It's kinda funny to see us batteling them. Anyway after the initial onslaught all their wings fall off and then they pair up, and walk around in circles. We have told our kids this is when they get married.
We guess they are probably mating then they go lay their eggs in the ground and DIE! That is it, fly around, lose their wings, mate, lose wings and die. Then on the next hot day their kids come out of the ground and it all happens again... crazy.
We are all doing really well. School is getting done, which is a good thing. I still need to order some school for Brie though.Shelby is at the orphanage almost every day, which is a huge blessing and they are getting lots done.
We are planning a Christmas party for the kids at the orphanage and about 45 kids from the township. We are excited about it and hope the kids will be blessed.
Cant wait to tell you all the fun stuff going on.
Love and miss you!
Andrea
I miss blogging so very much, it was one of my favorite things and I think of all the blogs I will do when we finally get internet and I can type them out whenever I want. Oh the tales I will tell.
Recently I feel like we have been in Egypt during the plagues... except on a much smaller scale. The bugs are everywhere, regular ants, FLYING ants and some BIG frogs. The flying ants come out at night by the thousands ( I am not kinding, thousands) so we have to run around and close all the doors and windows, but then they try and come under the doors, so we have to shove a towel under the door so they cant get in. It's kinda funny to see us batteling them. Anyway after the initial onslaught all their wings fall off and then they pair up, and walk around in circles. We have told our kids this is when they get married.
We guess they are probably mating then they go lay their eggs in the ground and DIE! That is it, fly around, lose their wings, mate, lose wings and die. Then on the next hot day their kids come out of the ground and it all happens again... crazy.
We are all doing really well. School is getting done, which is a good thing. I still need to order some school for Brie though.Shelby is at the orphanage almost every day, which is a huge blessing and they are getting lots done.
We are planning a Christmas party for the kids at the orphanage and about 45 kids from the township. We are excited about it and hope the kids will be blessed.
Cant wait to tell you all the fun stuff going on.
Love and miss you!
Andrea
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Oh how I have missed you dear blog
I have so missed typeing out my thoughts every day! I have taken notes so that when I have the time and the internet connection I can sit down and give a good update of our last month here in South Africa.
Right now we are at the South African Calvary Chapel Conference. What an amazing time it has been. Awesome teachers all day and great fellowship with others that have the same call on their lives as us. It has also been such a tremendous joy for me to see old friends from Fort Lauderdale and from Bible College, also mutual friends of much loved friends of mine. My heart is refreshed and encouraged. I am so excited to be a part of the tremendous work that God is and will be doing in South Africa. This is an exciting time here.
Let me tell you how incredibly beautiful Cape Town is... wow. Mountains and Ocean, rolling green hills, it kind of reminds me of Southern California but with it's own twist. All of SA has been beautiful, I am mesmerized by it's beauty.
We have seen penguins, baboons and whales since we have been here. Yes, penguin.. warm water penguins that sit on top of big boulders that shoot up from the ocean. The whales are awesome, they come inland in the morning and hang out, rolling, jumping and blowing. The sound of them hitting the water is awesome and their blow hole noises, they make me happy.
A word on baboons... scary!!! They are big, with huge lion like fangs and will come after you to take your food or your life. They actually come right up to where we are, and will break into your home looking for food. While we are hear at the conference center we have to make sure our doors to our cabins are locked...scary.
Next week we get to spend some alone time with our church family and love on each other and get ready to go home and get down to business. What a joy to actually be here, I still can't believe it sometimes.
I am so excited to finally be able to up load some photos... yay! Enjoy!
Enjoy the photos!
Blessings,
Andrea
Right now we are at the South African Calvary Chapel Conference. What an amazing time it has been. Awesome teachers all day and great fellowship with others that have the same call on their lives as us. It has also been such a tremendous joy for me to see old friends from Fort Lauderdale and from Bible College, also mutual friends of much loved friends of mine. My heart is refreshed and encouraged. I am so excited to be a part of the tremendous work that God is and will be doing in South Africa. This is an exciting time here.
Let me tell you how incredibly beautiful Cape Town is... wow. Mountains and Ocean, rolling green hills, it kind of reminds me of Southern California but with it's own twist. All of SA has been beautiful, I am mesmerized by it's beauty.
We have seen penguins, baboons and whales since we have been here. Yes, penguin.. warm water penguins that sit on top of big boulders that shoot up from the ocean. The whales are awesome, they come inland in the morning and hang out, rolling, jumping and blowing. The sound of them hitting the water is awesome and their blow hole noises, they make me happy.
A word on baboons... scary!!! They are big, with huge lion like fangs and will come after you to take your food or your life. They actually come right up to where we are, and will break into your home looking for food. While we are hear at the conference center we have to make sure our doors to our cabins are locked...scary.
Next week we get to spend some alone time with our church family and love on each other and get ready to go home and get down to business. What a joy to actually be here, I still can't believe it sometimes.
I am so excited to finally be able to up load some photos... yay! Enjoy!
Blessings,
Andrea
Sunday, October 10, 2010
quick update!!!
Hello my friends!!! Oh how I miss you all and wish I could talk and hug you! We are so very good and settleing in wonderfully. We have been content with living very simply and it has been wonderful. The Lord has provided for all of our needs.
Last week Shelby and Jesse ran a basketball/sports camp at the orphanage. It was a holiday week, so the children were out of school. The children had a wonderful time and learned about basketball, soccer and the Lord!!! :) These precious babies are amazing and we are so very blessed to get to spend our time loving on them. Brie and Drew went almost everyday. The children LOVE Brie and love to sit on her lap and do her hair.Both Brie and I always leave with new hairdos and braids. We have many pictures but again because we do not have our own internet yet we cannot post them yet.
We are going to the SA pastors conference this week in Cape Town. We are all very excited to see some old friends from Bible College and just study the word for a week. We also get to spend a week in Cape town with a Calvary Chapel in Kommetjie, our friends from Florida started the church and it will be good to spend time with them and see the area.
We send love to you all and cant wait till we get back from the conference and have internet. We will be able to update with pictures... yippe!
Blessings,
Andrea
Last week Shelby and Jesse ran a basketball/sports camp at the orphanage. It was a holiday week, so the children were out of school. The children had a wonderful time and learned about basketball, soccer and the Lord!!! :) These precious babies are amazing and we are so very blessed to get to spend our time loving on them. Brie and Drew went almost everyday. The children LOVE Brie and love to sit on her lap and do her hair.Both Brie and I always leave with new hairdos and braids. We have many pictures but again because we do not have our own internet yet we cannot post them yet.
We are going to the SA pastors conference this week in Cape Town. We are all very excited to see some old friends from Bible College and just study the word for a week. We also get to spend a week in Cape town with a Calvary Chapel in Kommetjie, our friends from Florida started the church and it will be good to spend time with them and see the area.
We send love to you all and cant wait till we get back from the conference and have internet. We will be able to update with pictures... yippe!
Blessings,
Andrea
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Oh boy so much to blog about and not a lot of time
Let me share some quick thoughts off the top of my head, these are not super spiritual just some differences I am noticing.
In Africa there is no such thing as a plush roll of toilet paper... 1 ply, small roll and it is scratchy!!!
There is no such thing as a gallon of milk, they are sold in the 1/2 gallon or smaller, probably because there are not a lot of preservatives and they go bad faster, also bread goes moldy quickly b/c of the lack of preservatives.
Driving on the wrong side of the road is scary! I have only done it once (Andrea), Shelby however is a pro.. show off!
I have learned to hang my laundry, I feel quite accomplished when I see all the clothes on the line. Also, whites are so much whiter, I dont know why this is but they are brillantly white. This makes me happy.
I have a family of mongoose living in my front garden (lawn)... yes mongoose, like Rikki tikki tavi (remember the story)?
African time is not US time, it is slow paced here and I think people are less stressed. I'm working on it :)
My feet will never be pink again. I dont know if my childrens feet will ever be clean again. Africa is a dirty place and the dirt gets everywhere.
Ok... a short update. We are good, setteling in a bit. We all now have mattresses and our kitchen is working, someone from the church lent us a dining room table so we are good to go. We are unpacked and putting things away and hopefully I will be starting up homeschool next week.
The first week I was completely overwhelmed by the sights and the poverty, this week I am in love with the land and the people.
There is so much need, but instead of being overwhelmed the Lord allowed me to hear His heart. I am only called to do His will, not save everyone or fix everything! I do just the will of the Lord for me.
I have tons of pictures, and as soon as I can upload some I will share. We get a land line in 2-3 weeks and then in another 2-3 weeks we get internet (remember African time). So, until then I am out of the loop and only on the net here and there.
Please dont forget us and keep praying for us. Shelby is doing a basketball clinic at the orphanage next week, teaching basketball and Jesus :) Pray that the Lord blesses.
Love you all and Blessings,
Andrea
In Africa there is no such thing as a plush roll of toilet paper... 1 ply, small roll and it is scratchy!!!
There is no such thing as a gallon of milk, they are sold in the 1/2 gallon or smaller, probably because there are not a lot of preservatives and they go bad faster, also bread goes moldy quickly b/c of the lack of preservatives.
Driving on the wrong side of the road is scary! I have only done it once (Andrea), Shelby however is a pro.. show off!
I have learned to hang my laundry, I feel quite accomplished when I see all the clothes on the line. Also, whites are so much whiter, I dont know why this is but they are brillantly white. This makes me happy.
I have a family of mongoose living in my front garden (lawn)... yes mongoose, like Rikki tikki tavi (remember the story)?
African time is not US time, it is slow paced here and I think people are less stressed. I'm working on it :)
My feet will never be pink again. I dont know if my childrens feet will ever be clean again. Africa is a dirty place and the dirt gets everywhere.
Ok... a short update. We are good, setteling in a bit. We all now have mattresses and our kitchen is working, someone from the church lent us a dining room table so we are good to go. We are unpacked and putting things away and hopefully I will be starting up homeschool next week.
The first week I was completely overwhelmed by the sights and the poverty, this week I am in love with the land and the people.
There is so much need, but instead of being overwhelmed the Lord allowed me to hear His heart. I am only called to do His will, not save everyone or fix everything! I do just the will of the Lord for me.
I have tons of pictures, and as soon as I can upload some I will share. We get a land line in 2-3 weeks and then in another 2-3 weeks we get internet (remember African time). So, until then I am out of the loop and only on the net here and there.
Please dont forget us and keep praying for us. Shelby is doing a basketball clinic at the orphanage next week, teaching basketball and Jesus :) Pray that the Lord blesses.
Love you all and Blessings,
Andrea
Monday, September 13, 2010
Today is the day
I have so much to blog about from the last few days and don't have the time to do it this morning. I'll have some time on the plane today to jot a couple thoughts down :)
I can't believe the day is here when I can say we are actually moving to South Africa... wow. God has truly gone before us and I am amazed at his faithfulness. I'll be checking in with you all from South Africa.
To God be all glory and power forever and ever... AMEN!
Love and Blessings,
Andrea
I can't believe the day is here when I can say we are actually moving to South Africa... wow. God has truly gone before us and I am amazed at his faithfulness. I'll be checking in with you all from South Africa.
To God be all glory and power forever and ever... AMEN!
Love and Blessings,
Andrea
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
I am watching the plan of the Lord unfold and it is truly amazing to behold. I am just as amazed at what He is doing as the next person. Let me tell you about what the Lord has been up too.
First He has provided us a home. He did it in His typical unconventional way just so we would again know that it was Him and not us. The home the Lord has provided is an amazing home on the property of Focus on Ithemba. This is a property Focus on the Family owns. They are doing cluster, foster homes on this property. This is where a family, mom, dad and their kids come to live then orphaned children are placed with the family and are cared and loved for. This is what our heart is desiring to do with our orphanage that the Lord has given us to work with. How amazing that He has plopped us down right in the midst of the model for what we feel we are to do. The other blessing is that it is very safe and in a gated community, this has provided great comfort for our families. There is also instant community for ourselves and our children with the other families on the property. I am excited to see how the Lord will knit this all together with our church Calvary Chapel 1000 Hills, the orphanage Kulani Kahle and with Focus on Ithemba. Please keep this in prayer and before the Lord that His will, will be done.
Second, we may have a car. I (Andrea) have a disability, and that is, I cannot drive a stick shift; I know shamefull. My brain DOES NOT work like that. My huge problem is that almost every car in SA is a stick. The thought of me having to learn stick shifting with my left hand instead of right and driving on the wrong side of the road terrifies me!!! I know that the Lord would download shifting skills if needed, but I prayed earnestly that he would provide an automatic car. As of this morning our friends in SA have gotten their hands on a car for us, it is safe, solid, and an AUTOMATIC! We have giggled about it, it's a 95 Mercedes... funny huh? This seems kinda luxurious for us, but Mercs are everywhere there and nothing special. I absolutely love that the Lord did not make me drive stick! Thank you Jesus, I am sure all South Africans would rejoice about this also.
I am overwhelmed by His provision! He has truly done everything!!! Except pack... which we have done :) We made a lot of progress today and hopefully will be completely packed up by Wed. I am asking for prayer for this week. There is much opposition from the enemy, which is really just a nuisance, so we really are asking that the Lord would protect and just keep the enemy away. We also need to finish packing and clean our home. My family will be in town on the 9th and I am asking for prayer that we can just really enjoy each other and have everything done so we have time to just "be" with each other. Shelby's family will come in on Sunday... again just pray for a sweet time of fellowship for us all. We just need prayer cover so if you can please lift us up!
Alrighty, that is it for tonight. I am exhausted and have another day of packing and errands tomorrow, so I am off to bed.
Be Blessed,
Andrea
First He has provided us a home. He did it in His typical unconventional way just so we would again know that it was Him and not us. The home the Lord has provided is an amazing home on the property of Focus on Ithemba. This is a property Focus on the Family owns. They are doing cluster, foster homes on this property. This is where a family, mom, dad and their kids come to live then orphaned children are placed with the family and are cared and loved for. This is what our heart is desiring to do with our orphanage that the Lord has given us to work with. How amazing that He has plopped us down right in the midst of the model for what we feel we are to do. The other blessing is that it is very safe and in a gated community, this has provided great comfort for our families. There is also instant community for ourselves and our children with the other families on the property. I am excited to see how the Lord will knit this all together with our church Calvary Chapel 1000 Hills, the orphanage Kulani Kahle and with Focus on Ithemba. Please keep this in prayer and before the Lord that His will, will be done.
Second, we may have a car. I (Andrea) have a disability, and that is, I cannot drive a stick shift; I know shamefull. My brain DOES NOT work like that. My huge problem is that almost every car in SA is a stick. The thought of me having to learn stick shifting with my left hand instead of right and driving on the wrong side of the road terrifies me!!! I know that the Lord would download shifting skills if needed, but I prayed earnestly that he would provide an automatic car. As of this morning our friends in SA have gotten their hands on a car for us, it is safe, solid, and an AUTOMATIC! We have giggled about it, it's a 95 Mercedes... funny huh? This seems kinda luxurious for us, but Mercs are everywhere there and nothing special. I absolutely love that the Lord did not make me drive stick! Thank you Jesus, I am sure all South Africans would rejoice about this also.
I am overwhelmed by His provision! He has truly done everything!!! Except pack... which we have done :) We made a lot of progress today and hopefully will be completely packed up by Wed. I am asking for prayer for this week. There is much opposition from the enemy, which is really just a nuisance, so we really are asking that the Lord would protect and just keep the enemy away. We also need to finish packing and clean our home. My family will be in town on the 9th and I am asking for prayer that we can just really enjoy each other and have everything done so we have time to just "be" with each other. Shelby's family will come in on Sunday... again just pray for a sweet time of fellowship for us all. We just need prayer cover so if you can please lift us up!
Alrighty, that is it for tonight. I am exhausted and have another day of packing and errands tomorrow, so I am off to bed.
Be Blessed,
Andrea
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
12 Days... unbelievable!
I cannot believe we only have 12 days until we leave!!! It seems unbelievable to me that the past year has flown by so fast.
We still have so much to do with packing and forwarding addresses and selling vehicles and some furniture. Please pray that we will be able to do everything we need to and that the Lord would sustain us.
Please also pray for Jesse, Emily and Eisley. They are going to be in South Africa tomorrow. We are so excited for them to start their journey in SA. Be blessed friends we love you see you in 2 weeks.
We also are still in need of monthly supporters. Please pray that the Lord will raise people up to support us. We know He is going to provide, He has promised and provided the whole way. Let's just keep it before the Lord.
Still... 12 days. Oh my!
Blessings,
Andrea
We still have so much to do with packing and forwarding addresses and selling vehicles and some furniture. Please pray that we will be able to do everything we need to and that the Lord would sustain us.
Please also pray for Jesse, Emily and Eisley. They are going to be in South Africa tomorrow. We are so excited for them to start their journey in SA. Be blessed friends we love you see you in 2 weeks.
We also are still in need of monthly supporters. Please pray that the Lord will raise people up to support us. We know He is going to provide, He has promised and provided the whole way. Let's just keep it before the Lord.
Still... 12 days. Oh my!
Blessings,
Andrea
Monday, August 30, 2010
Remember and watching
I am at a spot where I am having to go back and remember the promises of the Lord. I am also having to repeat it back to myself over and over. He has promised to provide all of our needs and then some for the people of South Africa and Lesotho. He was the one that told us to go on the 13 of Sep, He is the one who has worked out every last detail. Yet, we do not have all our monthly support!
Today, was the first day that I actually got a little panicky and you know what the Lord did? He brought me back to the things I KNOW. He reminded me of the past when He provided, out of the blue, in a way I never planned ie: the house we are living in now on the day we needed a house. I can look back at the house situation and I knew God had spoken that He had a home for us and it would be free. The morning we had to be out of our house and we still did not have a home, I was worried! But, God did His thing and He showed up right when we needed it. He fulfilled His promise.
I do not know how God will do this? I can't even tell Him how I think He should do it. I just know He will because He is faithful when He tells us something. We can trust Him!
Someone told me today that they read our blog and as we go they were going to continue to read and WATCH! The word watch, jumped out at me. I have thought on this word all day. They will be watching, but they are not watching me or my family, what they are watching for is to see the hand of God. It was like God gave me a little jolt and said "Andrea, people are going to watch and see My Name be lifted higher, My name be glorified!" People are going to watch and they will see the hand of God.
I pray that people see Him all over our lives. I pray that they see prayers answered and people saved. I pray that they will see Him do impossible things and He will do them with absolutely no problem. In this the people watching will build up their faith and then others will watch them. Praise God!
Back to the faith filled life I go. This is not easy, our flesh and minds can kick into over drive and bring doubt. To life in faith is to be doing battle with the enemy and combating him with the truth. He has promised to provide! I have to believe that and I am excited to see Him do it in the way He chooses. I pray that it builds my faith and it builds others.
Please pray for us right now. We have 2 weeks left and so, so much left to do. Hopefully I will wrap up packing and storage this week. I also need to finalize what we are going to be able to bring and then clean the house. We are not sure where we will be staying the weekend before we leave, please pray that we will find a place to lodge. I would ask that you would ask the Lord to provide for us in monthly donations and in start up cost. And that He would fight our battles against the enemy. We also need to sell our car, my dining room table and a trailer, I would like to get what they are worth and be blessed by these payments. Oh, we are also praying that we can find a home to rent in SA, we need one that will be available in the middle of the month when we get there. We have found out that it is more difficult to find homes mid month than at the 1st of the month... God can do it and knew the date we were to go, just lift it before Him!
I appreciate each of you that takes the time to stop and read (and watch) our blog. I pray that you would be blessed and encouraged! Thank you for taking a moment to pray for us, we really need the prayer cover right now and feel so blessed, knowing that we have so many faithfully praying for us.
Blessings,
Andrea
Today, was the first day that I actually got a little panicky and you know what the Lord did? He brought me back to the things I KNOW. He reminded me of the past when He provided, out of the blue, in a way I never planned ie: the house we are living in now on the day we needed a house. I can look back at the house situation and I knew God had spoken that He had a home for us and it would be free. The morning we had to be out of our house and we still did not have a home, I was worried! But, God did His thing and He showed up right when we needed it. He fulfilled His promise.
I do not know how God will do this? I can't even tell Him how I think He should do it. I just know He will because He is faithful when He tells us something. We can trust Him!
Someone told me today that they read our blog and as we go they were going to continue to read and WATCH! The word watch, jumped out at me. I have thought on this word all day. They will be watching, but they are not watching me or my family, what they are watching for is to see the hand of God. It was like God gave me a little jolt and said "Andrea, people are going to watch and see My Name be lifted higher, My name be glorified!" People are going to watch and they will see the hand of God.
I pray that people see Him all over our lives. I pray that they see prayers answered and people saved. I pray that they will see Him do impossible things and He will do them with absolutely no problem. In this the people watching will build up their faith and then others will watch them. Praise God!
Back to the faith filled life I go. This is not easy, our flesh and minds can kick into over drive and bring doubt. To life in faith is to be doing battle with the enemy and combating him with the truth. He has promised to provide! I have to believe that and I am excited to see Him do it in the way He chooses. I pray that it builds my faith and it builds others.
Please pray for us right now. We have 2 weeks left and so, so much left to do. Hopefully I will wrap up packing and storage this week. I also need to finalize what we are going to be able to bring and then clean the house. We are not sure where we will be staying the weekend before we leave, please pray that we will find a place to lodge. I would ask that you would ask the Lord to provide for us in monthly donations and in start up cost. And that He would fight our battles against the enemy. We also need to sell our car, my dining room table and a trailer, I would like to get what they are worth and be blessed by these payments. Oh, we are also praying that we can find a home to rent in SA, we need one that will be available in the middle of the month when we get there. We have found out that it is more difficult to find homes mid month than at the 1st of the month... God can do it and knew the date we were to go, just lift it before Him!
I appreciate each of you that takes the time to stop and read (and watch) our blog. I pray that you would be blessed and encouraged! Thank you for taking a moment to pray for us, we really need the prayer cover right now and feel so blessed, knowing that we have so many faithfully praying for us.
Blessings,
Andrea
Saturday, August 28, 2010
To all the nay sayers... listen up ya'll cuz this is it!
These are my ramblings for the night... I don't know if they make a lot of sense, but it helps me to journal my thoughts.
When you choose to do something off the beaten path, you will have some gasp in horror and try to change your mind. They will act like you are being foolish. They will tell you that living by faith really isn't the way to go. I especially love this one... "Why don't you just get a real job?" Some people that are spewing their wisdom in our direction have well meaning hearts, others just can't wrap their mind around being "called". This lifestyle we are choosing makes no sense.
In the last few days I have had to go back and read my journal. I have kept a journal, in great detail, of the last 10 month. I'm so glad I did this, knowing that the enemy will come in and try to defeat and steal, kill and destroy. I can go back and look at how He spoke, at what He has done, how He has directed. The Lord has been everywhere. He has provided in ways only He could. He has built our faith and made us do thing that have been uncomfortable, all to build our trust in Him. He has taught us to hear His voice. I love this!!!
Listening to the Lord and hearing His voice, is huge! I love how in the last few years God has really worked on this in me. Now, I recognize Him and will follow wholeheartedly instead of questioning if it was God. This has a great purpose in the life of a Christian, because there will also be other voices that speak contrary to what you heard the Lord speak. Sometimes contrary messages even come from people you love. Others can view what God is doing in our lives as risky, dangerous, not a real solid foundation for our family. There is crime, rape, Aids... the list goes on. We don't have all of our support, yet we are still going.
Let me tell you WHY we are still going... Because GOD said to go!!! He has been very clear that we will be safest in His plan. He has been very clear that He will provide everything we need financially. I have watched Him do miraculous things in our lives just in the last 10 months. He provided a home the day we needed to be out of our old home, for free and it is over 8000sq ft. He provided for our passports, visas and air plane tickets, all without us asking. He has provided every bit of support we have without us fundraising. I don't know how He plans on protecting us, I don't know how He will support us, but I KNOW (ginoskos) He will... Because He said so! There is no firmer a foundation.
When you choose to do something off the beaten path, you will have some gasp in horror and try to change your mind. They will act like you are being foolish. They will tell you that living by faith really isn't the way to go. I especially love this one... "Why don't you just get a real job?" Some people that are spewing their wisdom in our direction have well meaning hearts, others just can't wrap their mind around being "called". This lifestyle we are choosing makes no sense.
In the last few days I have had to go back and read my journal. I have kept a journal, in great detail, of the last 10 month. I'm so glad I did this, knowing that the enemy will come in and try to defeat and steal, kill and destroy. I can go back and look at how He spoke, at what He has done, how He has directed. The Lord has been everywhere. He has provided in ways only He could. He has built our faith and made us do thing that have been uncomfortable, all to build our trust in Him. He has taught us to hear His voice. I love this!!!
Listening to the Lord and hearing His voice, is huge! I love how in the last few years God has really worked on this in me. Now, I recognize Him and will follow wholeheartedly instead of questioning if it was God. This has a great purpose in the life of a Christian, because there will also be other voices that speak contrary to what you heard the Lord speak. Sometimes contrary messages even come from people you love. Others can view what God is doing in our lives as risky, dangerous, not a real solid foundation for our family. There is crime, rape, Aids... the list goes on. We don't have all of our support, yet we are still going.
Let me tell you WHY we are still going... Because GOD said to go!!! He has been very clear that we will be safest in His plan. He has been very clear that He will provide everything we need financially. I have watched Him do miraculous things in our lives just in the last 10 months. He provided a home the day we needed to be out of our old home, for free and it is over 8000sq ft. He provided for our passports, visas and air plane tickets, all without us asking. He has provided every bit of support we have without us fundraising. I don't know how He plans on protecting us, I don't know how He will support us, but I KNOW (ginoskos) He will... Because He said so! There is no firmer a foundation.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14
In the words of my pastor today: We should only be tethered to this world while we're seated in heavenly places in Christ. Get heavenly minded! (Steve Berger) We are aware of the risks, the disease the crime, but if we did not go to Africa we would be outside of God's will. We cannot and will not conform to what people say because we know what God has said! Our sojourn on this earth is super short, a vapor, my life begins when I get to my Heavenly Kingdom, but I want to live for that Kingdom today!
I care deeply for many that have offered their advice and warned us about what is going on in South Africa. I love many who have their own ideas about when the best timing would be for us to go.
Here is what the Lord has been working in me:
Hab 2:1 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me.
Because of all of this waiting and watching it has made us very in tune with hearing His voice!
Heb 3:15 "Today if you hear His voice , do not harden your hearts."
I have learned to hear His voice and act instead of second guessing Him. If I do step out prematurely He is always there to redirect.
Romans 4:20-21"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."
If God speaks to us through His word, and through His Spirit I cannot waver through unbelief. He spoke, I heard and now I must obey.
I guess when it comes down to it, I desire wisdom and Godly counsel... I crave to be in the presence of wise Christians and listen to their wisdom. I have a teachable spirit and desire God's best in my life! But, when people speak contrary to what the Lord has spoken to us I only have one choice and that is to do the Lord's will.
I am thankful for the support of those that have watched God's hand on us since the beginning of this journey. I am so very thankful for the prayer warriors in our lives and I am thankful for the people God has and is raising up to support us. It has been humbling to watch God do this! I pray that in everything we do HIS NAME BE PRAISE. That people will see God glorified here on Earth!
This now concludes my ramblings!
Blessings Friends,
Andrea
I guess when it comes down to it, I desire wisdom and Godly counsel... I crave to be in the presence of wise Christians and listen to their wisdom. I have a teachable spirit and desire God's best in my life! But, when people speak contrary to what the Lord has spoken to us I only have one choice and that is to do the Lord's will.
I am thankful for the support of those that have watched God's hand on us since the beginning of this journey. I am so very thankful for the prayer warriors in our lives and I am thankful for the people God has and is raising up to support us. It has been humbling to watch God do this! I pray that in everything we do HIS NAME BE PRAISE. That people will see God glorified here on Earth!
This now concludes my ramblings!
Blessings Friends,
Andrea
Monday, August 23, 2010
Perspective
In the last few days I have begun to get weepy about leaving. Let me clarify, I want to go, my heart LONGS to be there with the people God has called us to be with. The reality that we may not get to see people from the States, again is setting in. We have now said good bye to a handful of people that we wont get to see again before we leave... it was a real goodbye!
The Lord has been so sweet to me gently allowing my emotions to flow, but also reminding me of His purpose for me and our family. This is from Jesus in Luke 4 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He appointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD"
Is. 25:4. For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress."
Psalm 10:14 "You have been the helper of the orphan... O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed."
Is 41:17 "The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them."
This is just a small portion of Scripture on the poor, needy and the orphaned. There are over 300 verses on the least, last and lost.
I know here on Earth I may not have the opportunity to see some people again, this is hard on my heart and my flesh, YET I have hope. I live in eternity, I am not confined to my earthly body and if I do not see some again here I have great hope that I will see them again in Eternity... YES! I may be sad in my flesh, but my Spirit reminds me of the truth and hope we have in Jesus Christ! I cannot turn from the call Jesus has put on us because of my flesh, I cannot be held back from His best and His purpose. I must pursue Him, I must chase after Him and go wherever He leads. God knows what He is doing and I don't want to miss anything He has for me and my family.
Deut. 15:7. I"f there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks."
Is. 58:66 "Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
The Bible has made it clear what we are to do, what I am to do, and this strengthens my heart in my weak moments. Truth girds me up and gives me courage to trust that the Lord will take care of all the details. God has said that He will bless us and take care of us and our gloom will be taken care of.
Prov. 22:9 He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
Deut. 15:10. You shall give generously to [your poor brother], and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.
Is. 58:10. "And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."
I just have to say Is 58 ROCKS!
As encouragement to myself and our friends and our families, let us all look at what the Word has said and trust that the Lord will take care of us, not to be afraid, or weep like those that don't have hope. I know that this is God's doing, He has been all over it, let's trust Him to keep doing His thing.
Here is a little perspective: I read a story today about a young lady in Africa, She is 23 years old and weighs 37lbs (let that sink in a minute)... my 8year old weighs double that!!! She is starving, quite possibly to death. Her family has stopped caring for her because they think she will die. She was naked, lying in her own waste, unable to even sit up. She had no water or food or hope of living.
A wonderful woman, Renee, went to her and cleaned her up, dressed her and covered her with blankets and the love of the Lord. No hospital would take this young lady, so Renee took her home and cared for her. She made her nutritious, vitamin laden drinks and gave them to the girl. This young girl has lived, she is still dangerously ill, but she is experiencing the hands and feet of the Lord through Renee. Renee is a modern day hero, she is going to people that do not have help, food, water, basic life giving necessities.
This is not just a story, this is going on right now across the Ocean from us. This young woman has a name, Nabakoza, and a beautiful face and a spirit that is longing for the living water only Jesus can bring. There are many other people like this young girl that just need someone to come and help. The need is great and far outweighs the few helpers. I have to be the hands and feet of Jesus! I have to keep the picture of this young lady before me. The need puts things into perspective, I am giving up nothing and gaining so much. I am thankful that we live in an age that we can keep connected via phone, internet, skype and all the good things we have available.
My heart is strong in the Lord and I am ready for His call and His will. I am sure that in the next 3 weeks we will have some rough emotional times, but I know His plans and purposes and they are good.
To read about Nabakoza yourself you can at www.servinghischildreninuganda.blogspot.com
Blessings friends,
Andrea
The Lord has been so sweet to me gently allowing my emotions to flow, but also reminding me of His purpose for me and our family. This is from Jesus in Luke 4 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He appointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD"
Is. 25:4. For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress."
Psalm 10:14 "You have been the helper of the orphan... O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed."
Is 41:17 "The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them."
This is just a small portion of Scripture on the poor, needy and the orphaned. There are over 300 verses on the least, last and lost.
I know here on Earth I may not have the opportunity to see some people again, this is hard on my heart and my flesh, YET I have hope. I live in eternity, I am not confined to my earthly body and if I do not see some again here I have great hope that I will see them again in Eternity... YES! I may be sad in my flesh, but my Spirit reminds me of the truth and hope we have in Jesus Christ! I cannot turn from the call Jesus has put on us because of my flesh, I cannot be held back from His best and His purpose. I must pursue Him, I must chase after Him and go wherever He leads. God knows what He is doing and I don't want to miss anything He has for me and my family.
Deut. 15:7. I"f there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, in any of the towns of the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand to your poor brother; but you shall freely open your hand to him, and generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks."
Is. 58:66 "Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
The Bible has made it clear what we are to do, what I am to do, and this strengthens my heart in my weak moments. Truth girds me up and gives me courage to trust that the Lord will take care of all the details. God has said that He will bless us and take care of us and our gloom will be taken care of.
Prov. 22:9 He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.
Deut. 15:10. You shall give generously to [your poor brother], and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.
Is. 58:10. "And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail."
I just have to say Is 58 ROCKS!
As encouragement to myself and our friends and our families, let us all look at what the Word has said and trust that the Lord will take care of us, not to be afraid, or weep like those that don't have hope. I know that this is God's doing, He has been all over it, let's trust Him to keep doing His thing.
Here is a little perspective: I read a story today about a young lady in Africa, She is 23 years old and weighs 37lbs (let that sink in a minute)... my 8year old weighs double that!!! She is starving, quite possibly to death. Her family has stopped caring for her because they think she will die. She was naked, lying in her own waste, unable to even sit up. She had no water or food or hope of living.
A wonderful woman, Renee, went to her and cleaned her up, dressed her and covered her with blankets and the love of the Lord. No hospital would take this young lady, so Renee took her home and cared for her. She made her nutritious, vitamin laden drinks and gave them to the girl. This young girl has lived, she is still dangerously ill, but she is experiencing the hands and feet of the Lord through Renee. Renee is a modern day hero, she is going to people that do not have help, food, water, basic life giving necessities.
This is not just a story, this is going on right now across the Ocean from us. This young woman has a name, Nabakoza, and a beautiful face and a spirit that is longing for the living water only Jesus can bring. There are many other people like this young girl that just need someone to come and help. The need is great and far outweighs the few helpers. I have to be the hands and feet of Jesus! I have to keep the picture of this young lady before me. The need puts things into perspective, I am giving up nothing and gaining so much. I am thankful that we live in an age that we can keep connected via phone, internet, skype and all the good things we have available.
My heart is strong in the Lord and I am ready for His call and His will. I am sure that in the next 3 weeks we will have some rough emotional times, but I know His plans and purposes and they are good.
To read about Nabakoza yourself you can at www.servinghischildreninuganda.blogspot.com
Blessings friends,
Andrea
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Please fill up our calendar with your prayer and support
We leave in just 3 weeks and 2 days... ahhhh! I sometimes still can't believe it. God has continually shown us His provision, His goodness, His plan and ways and His purpose. We are always amazed that He has asked us to go, but we are very confident that this is exactly the path He wants us on.
Since we only have about 3 weeks left we are asking our friends to sign up to pray and support us. The highest amount one can spend a month is $31, this is completely do able for so many. Think about how much you all drop going out to eat or Starbucks. Just pick a day 1-31, for the days of the calendar and pray on that day and support us with that amount of money.
I just had a friend sign up for a one time donation of $120, this will be a full year of $10mt, so she gets the 10th of each month to pray for us and we pray for her and her family. Please sign up with her and support us. I am going to put the calendar up and as days fill up you can see the progress with us.
1: Filled
2
3
4
5
5
6
7
8
9: Filled
10:Filled
11
12
13
14:Filled
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29:
30
31
We have 28 more days to fill up each month... please help us out!
To donate go to our website www.therenderfam.com and go to the donate tab. Then email us so we can fill in the date on the calendar. email shelby@therenderfam.com
I'm excited to see God provide in such a simple way. I love that we can both be praying for each other on the same day.
Be Blessed,
Andrea
Since we only have about 3 weeks left we are asking our friends to sign up to pray and support us. The highest amount one can spend a month is $31, this is completely do able for so many. Think about how much you all drop going out to eat or Starbucks. Just pick a day 1-31, for the days of the calendar and pray on that day and support us with that amount of money.
I just had a friend sign up for a one time donation of $120, this will be a full year of $10mt, so she gets the 10th of each month to pray for us and we pray for her and her family. Please sign up with her and support us. I am going to put the calendar up and as days fill up you can see the progress with us.
1: Filled
2
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9: Filled
10:Filled
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14:Filled
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29:
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We have 28 more days to fill up each month... please help us out!
To donate go to our website www.therenderfam.com and go to the donate tab. Then email us so we can fill in the date on the calendar. email shelby@therenderfam.com
I'm excited to see God provide in such a simple way. I love that we can both be praying for each other on the same day.
Be Blessed,
Andrea
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The calendar of prayer and support
Shelby had an awesome opportunity a few days ago to have coffee with a seasoned missionary. What a great time to be able to encourage each other. This missionary gave Shelby some wonderful advice. He spoke about how prayer is HUGE when you are on the mission field.
This missionary came up with a great way to have prayer support every day and have financial support. What he did was take a month of the calendar, 31 days, and he has a person sign up for a day. If I was asking you to sign a day on my calendar you could pick the 10th of the month and on that day you would pray for us and our needs. This is two fold though, you would also pledge $10 every month. So on the 10th you pray and you also send $10 for the month. If you picked the 15th you would pray on the 15th and also pay $15 for the month... so on and so forth.
This would be so amazing for us, if people would sign up and pray and support us in this way. If we had a whole calendar filled we would have almost $500 a month and people praying for us every single day!!!
On the day you sign up we will also pray for you. At the beginning of your prayer week we will email you our requests and we would also like it if you would tell us your needs. We will be faithful in prayer for you, as you are to us. Now, say you sign up for the 31st and it is Feb (no 31 in that month). You would still pray on the last day of the month, whatever the date and also still send your $31.
We want this to be really simple and easy for everyone. When you sign up you can email us at shelby@therenderfam.com and send us your top 3 dates, then when we get back with you on the date you go to the website and donate. Your donation can be the whole year of support or just a monthly with drawl, so if it is $10 a month, you could also donate $120 for the year, if that is easier.
Please be prayerful about picking a day for us, 1 -31. It is a doable amount for so many without being overwhelming. This will help us on a spiritual front and a financial front. Also, if you want to support more than $31 FEEL FREE!! We don't want to stifle anyone :) and we will pray for you too!!!
Love you all,
Andrea
This missionary came up with a great way to have prayer support every day and have financial support. What he did was take a month of the calendar, 31 days, and he has a person sign up for a day. If I was asking you to sign a day on my calendar you could pick the 10th of the month and on that day you would pray for us and our needs. This is two fold though, you would also pledge $10 every month. So on the 10th you pray and you also send $10 for the month. If you picked the 15th you would pray on the 15th and also pay $15 for the month... so on and so forth.
This would be so amazing for us, if people would sign up and pray and support us in this way. If we had a whole calendar filled we would have almost $500 a month and people praying for us every single day!!!
On the day you sign up we will also pray for you. At the beginning of your prayer week we will email you our requests and we would also like it if you would tell us your needs. We will be faithful in prayer for you, as you are to us. Now, say you sign up for the 31st and it is Feb (no 31 in that month). You would still pray on the last day of the month, whatever the date and also still send your $31.
We want this to be really simple and easy for everyone. When you sign up you can email us at shelby@therenderfam.com and send us your top 3 dates, then when we get back with you on the date you go to the website and donate. Your donation can be the whole year of support or just a monthly with drawl, so if it is $10 a month, you could also donate $120 for the year, if that is easier.
Please be prayerful about picking a day for us, 1 -31. It is a doable amount for so many without being overwhelming. This will help us on a spiritual front and a financial front. Also, if you want to support more than $31 FEEL FREE!! We don't want to stifle anyone :) and we will pray for you too!!!
Love you all,
Andrea
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
God determines.... not me!
Acts 17:26 (New International Version)
26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God just gave this verse to me. It was one of those verses that I probably read over and over and it never jumped out at me, but now it has jumped out at me and attached itself to my heart.
I LOVE knowing that he knows the times set for us and the exact places we should live! This is such a comfort as we do not know exactly when we are leaving or exactly where we will be living. To know that He does and his timing is perfect, that his plans are perfect puts so much joy in my heart.
In this one verse He confirms our calling to go to the whole earth, and brings comfort to what I have been worrying over, our move. I love how he meets all of us right where we are at, and directs us to right thinking. He is so sweet to me.
Tomorrow morning our Visa applications are being sent out!!! Whew! I am excited that all of the preparation for the Visas is done and that they are going out the door. Please pray that the Embassy looks favorably on our Visas and they get approved and sent back quickly. Then the next step is boarding a plane to South Africa. We are really on the home stretch and I am so ready to go.
 |
| Here is our application... you can just pray over it :) |
While we are waiting for our Visas to return to us, I will be getting rid of the rest of our belongings. We will each have 3 bins that we can take. We are pairing down and getting rid or storing everything except our 3 bins worth. We have made quite a dent but there is still much to go through. I have lots of work to keep me busy. We just keep doing what we are supposed to do while God does what he does in preparing the way.
Keep us in prayer that we are diligent in what we need to get done, that the Lord sustains us with health and energy, and that we have time to spend with family and friends without having to worry about all the stuff that needs to get done. We really appreciate you all holding us up in prayer!!!
Blessings,
Andrea
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Vacant yet Full
We are living in an almost completely vacant home. None of our children have bedroom sets anymore. Most of our furniture has sold, the only reason we still have couches is because the people that bought them are selling their house and asked if we could use them for awhile longer so they wouldn't have to put the couches in storage. My kids are appreciative of this fact because they still have something to sleep on.
It is strange to walk through your home and have mostly empty rooms, but it also gives me an odd kind of joy. I don't know if I can explain it??? We are just getting really close to being completely freed up to go. This is unbelievably exciting to me.
I have been thinking a lot about the 4.5 billion people that live on this earth, that are going to hell if they died today, and that 26,000 children will die today of starvation and preventable disease. I am so thankful that we are a step closer to going and giving a portion of that 4.5 billion Christ and a portion of that 26,000 may be saved because we can help. I am praising God for the opportunity to help the World, to go and preach the gospel and to save the least, the last and the lost.
It has definitely been a journey parting with everything we own. Things seem so important at first and then as you give things up it gets easier and easier. It is all just stuff! As we have been going thru some of our storage stuff, there were a few box's that had mildew growing on them and it reminded me of Matt 6. It talks about storing up our treasure in Heaven where moth and rust (and mildew) cant destroy. How true! Everything on this earth has a time frame, a beginning and an end. My stuff is not eternal, anything I own today someone else will own at a different time. Nothing here on earth is REALLY mine. My treasure is in HEAVEN! My life is in HEAVEN, my citizenship is in HEAVEN!!! This changes one's perspective on stuff.
Matt 6:33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness... if we are truly seeking the Kingdom of God that could mean that we may see some changes in our lives. Seek in this verse means sincere seeking, a careful concern and earnest endeavor. Heaven would be our end and Holiness would be our way. We would prefer heavenly blessings over earthly delights.
The rest of the verse states... and all these things will be added to you! If we truly believed this truth we would see such a change in our lives and the world around us. That the best way to be comfortably provided for in this world is to be intent upon a Heavenly world.
The thought of the church living like Matt 6: 33 excites me! The thought of me living like that excites me. In no way have I got this life figured out, I am learning every day. The Lord teaches, and corrects, and leads me everyday. So today as we unload more stuff from our almost vacant home, my heart is full, my spirit is pressed closer to the Lord and I am a step closer to boarding the plane to Africa!
May the Lords name be praised and all Glory given to God!
Andrea
It is strange to walk through your home and have mostly empty rooms, but it also gives me an odd kind of joy. I don't know if I can explain it??? We are just getting really close to being completely freed up to go. This is unbelievably exciting to me.
I have been thinking a lot about the 4.5 billion people that live on this earth, that are going to hell if they died today, and that 26,000 children will die today of starvation and preventable disease. I am so thankful that we are a step closer to going and giving a portion of that 4.5 billion Christ and a portion of that 26,000 may be saved because we can help. I am praising God for the opportunity to help the World, to go and preach the gospel and to save the least, the last and the lost.
It has definitely been a journey parting with everything we own. Things seem so important at first and then as you give things up it gets easier and easier. It is all just stuff! As we have been going thru some of our storage stuff, there were a few box's that had mildew growing on them and it reminded me of Matt 6. It talks about storing up our treasure in Heaven where moth and rust (and mildew) cant destroy. How true! Everything on this earth has a time frame, a beginning and an end. My stuff is not eternal, anything I own today someone else will own at a different time. Nothing here on earth is REALLY mine. My treasure is in HEAVEN! My life is in HEAVEN, my citizenship is in HEAVEN!!! This changes one's perspective on stuff.
Matt 6:33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness... if we are truly seeking the Kingdom of God that could mean that we may see some changes in our lives. Seek in this verse means sincere seeking, a careful concern and earnest endeavor. Heaven would be our end and Holiness would be our way. We would prefer heavenly blessings over earthly delights.
The rest of the verse states... and all these things will be added to you! If we truly believed this truth we would see such a change in our lives and the world around us. That the best way to be comfortably provided for in this world is to be intent upon a Heavenly world.
The thought of the church living like Matt 6: 33 excites me! The thought of me living like that excites me. In no way have I got this life figured out, I am learning every day. The Lord teaches, and corrects, and leads me everyday. So today as we unload more stuff from our almost vacant home, my heart is full, my spirit is pressed closer to the Lord and I am a step closer to boarding the plane to Africa!
May the Lords name be praised and all Glory given to God!
Andrea
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Grandpa Shorty
I wanted to let everyone know that Shelby's grandpa went home to be with the Lord the other day. Shelby went to Indiana to attend the viewing and the funeral. He was able to share at the funeral and it has been a blessing for him to be with his family. Thank you for your prayers. I was so thankful that I was able to call him Grandpa too, he is such a very special man and was one of Shelby and my biggest fans! He is a hero to our family, we cant wait to see him again in Heaven.
Blessings,
Andrea
Blessings,
Andrea
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Prayer Request
Hey guys, this has nothing to do with our Africa trip directly, but just a personal/family prayer request. I got a call yesterday regarding my grandpa and he is not doing well health wise. I am not asking for a miracle or for healing or anything like that. He has lived a good life, fought the good fight, and its just time. Mom said a few days ago he said he was just tired and ready for some heaven. So I am just praying for a peaceful transition from the temporary tent, to his new glorified body. Because of his da-men-sa (no idea how to spell that), they (hospice) have had to sedate him these last couple of days. So I am also praying for one more opportunity to say goodbye. Not that I have to have it, but it would be nice. Our last visit was a good one and if thats all I get I am good. This all happened the day we left to go to Florida to raise support for our trip and also spend one last visit with our family and friends here. So I am struggling a little bit with not being there. I love my grandpa, he has been one of my biggest fans, advocates, and supporters. He is one of the greatest, neatest men I have known. He is a true Hero, and an excellent fisherman. This will not be easy for me, so I guess you can pray for me to. His name is Robert, but everyone calls him Shorty, and his wife's name is Faye. thank you
Shelby
Shelby
Thursday, July 1, 2010
God's economy vs man's economy
I need to start this post out with some truth, God is above man!
Simple, isn't it? If that is TRUTH then we will launch off from that point. God is hard to grasp at times, He doesn't do things in a certain way and is not concerned about doing things the "right" way. I believe that God wants to ROCK us on a daily basis.
Why if He is moving do we so often hold back His hand? I keep having this vision of God's hand out stretched and out of His hand are GREAT things, literally blessings are pouring out of His hand non stop. Yet we (as a church) keep closing His hand up, curling His fingers back and saying "It hasn't been done that way before, this is not the right way to do things!" God's fingers curl back and the blessings begin to clog up and shoot out the other way away from us.... The blessings don't stop, but they don't get to be used by us... Hmmm
This I can't stop thinking about. I want to challenge us as a body to look at Christ in a little different light, just for a second let's not limit Him. Just for a a moment let us not hold GOD to man's constraints. We know that God has ALL, he is not really concerned with money at all. Money is nothing to God, He is above money. We are confined by money and amounts and needs! God is not limited by time, we are the ones that have time issues and dates and deadlines. God is not concerned with following any set way to do things, He is God! He can do things however He wants to. We have proper ways of doing things, right ways, the way it has always been done before.
Don't we see in the Bible that the Lord didn't ever follow a set way of doing things? He is full of variety and freshness. The word new comes to mind. We know in Lamentations His mercies are new every morning, He is faithful. We know that His ways are not our ways. Then why do we curl back His fingers by simply not accepting His newness?
God is doing new and fresh works everyday. We need to recognize God's hand and just allow Him to do His thing. It may look different! Maybe no one has ever done anything like this before??? Maybe people say you should maybe change what you are doing and do it differently because this way won't work. If God does the work it will work, He cannot fail. I have watched God do plenty of unbelievable things through people in ways no one would have thought would work.
I am praying in my own life that I do not curl back His fingers, that I will move with His Spirit and recognize His movement. That I will not constrain God's hand by my own fear and limits. He is limitless, He is above all and can do all. His way is the only way. I want to live in the midst of that!
Blessings,
Andrea
I am praying in my own life that I do not curl back His fingers, that I will move with His Spirit and recognize His movement. That I will not constrain God's hand by my own fear and limits. He is limitless, He is above all and can do all. His way is the only way. I want to live in the midst of that!
Blessings,
Andrea
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Love
I have fought today with the idea of being disappointed in man! Here is the thing with that, of course we are going to be disappointed in man, even a man with the best of intentions. The only place we will find no disappointment is with God. There is absolutely nothing disappointing about Him. Everything that is good comes from Him, His way is always the right way, He delights over us, He is crazy in love with us! He only wants the best for us, provides, protects, lifts up, directs... and so much more.
There is nothing disappointing in God!
My encouragement to the Church. Dear loved of God, LOVE and do it lavishly! Have your expectations rest only in God and just love.
In God alone!
Andrea
There is nothing disappointing in God!
My encouragement to the Church. Dear loved of God, LOVE and do it lavishly! Have your expectations rest only in God and just love.
In God alone!
Andrea
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Surreal
I feel a bit out of my body right now. It is late and I have been working hard all day, so I don't know if this will make tons of sense? But, here we go anyway...It is really hard to get rid of all of my stuff! Yes, I said it!!! I have accumulated things for 16 years, things I really like, things that were "so me", things that brought comfort or happy thoughts. Still just THINGS!
It has been difficult preparing for a Huge Sale of all of my belongings, when I actually still like everything I have. It is different when I have a garage sale and get rid of things I no longer want or need, this is not like that.
Here is the truth in the matter though, what I have to look forward to, over in Africa, is so much more valuable than all of my things combined. My precious children at the orphanage, infinitely better than my favorite red dishes!!! The people in Lesotho, so much more lovely than my china!!! Knowing that Jesus has called us there is even more comfortable than my Temper pedic mattress ( and this is very comfy)!
Galations 5:17 "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."
This pretty much explains it I am in a battle between my flesh and my Spirit! I am so thankful that the Lord has been so sweet to me and understanding. He has been by me, encouraging me while I put everything out to sell. He understands how I feel, He created my flesh and knows my connection to this world. It isn't a bad feeling, he created me with feelings. Yet, He is encouraging me to release my fleshly belongings for a much deeper relationship with Him in my Spirit. He is making my Spirit stronger and that is worth a lot. He takes me as I am and fully loves me, He never stops investing and working on me.
That is what He wants to do with us all. Take us as we are! Fully loved in whatever spot you may be in. You could be a mess, backslidden and broken... He LOVES you! It's that easy, isn't that awesome?
I'm thanking God that He knows me and loves me just the way I am, that He understands my sadness. I love that He encourages me in truth! I am praying for you all tonight that the Lord would meet you right where you are at and encourage you in truth too!
Thank you dear friends for your prayers! Blessings,
Andrea
It has been difficult preparing for a Huge Sale of all of my belongings, when I actually still like everything I have. It is different when I have a garage sale and get rid of things I no longer want or need, this is not like that.
Here is the truth in the matter though, what I have to look forward to, over in Africa, is so much more valuable than all of my things combined. My precious children at the orphanage, infinitely better than my favorite red dishes!!! The people in Lesotho, so much more lovely than my china!!! Knowing that Jesus has called us there is even more comfortable than my Temper pedic mattress ( and this is very comfy)!
Galations 5:17 "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."
This pretty much explains it I am in a battle between my flesh and my Spirit! I am so thankful that the Lord has been so sweet to me and understanding. He has been by me, encouraging me while I put everything out to sell. He understands how I feel, He created my flesh and knows my connection to this world. It isn't a bad feeling, he created me with feelings. Yet, He is encouraging me to release my fleshly belongings for a much deeper relationship with Him in my Spirit. He is making my Spirit stronger and that is worth a lot. He takes me as I am and fully loves me, He never stops investing and working on me.
That is what He wants to do with us all. Take us as we are! Fully loved in whatever spot you may be in. You could be a mess, backslidden and broken... He LOVES you! It's that easy, isn't that awesome?
I'm thanking God that He knows me and loves me just the way I am, that He understands my sadness. I love that He encourages me in truth! I am praying for you all tonight that the Lord would meet you right where you are at and encourage you in truth too!
Thank you dear friends for your prayers! Blessings,
Andrea
Friday, June 25, 2010
"Ask"
God gave me a verse at the beginning of this journey that simply said "You have not because you ask not"(Actually all of James 4 has been awesome for me personally)!
At that point I began asking God for things, not for just anything or the things I desire, but for the things He had put on my heart. I began asking for all sorts of things and guess what He provided bigger than I ever thought. He showed up, He worked things out, He was Lord, boss, giver, redeemer, Savior, Helper, protecter... and so much more.
We are in the season of raising support. I refuse to do some kind of show to raise money. God has made it clear He wants us to go and brought about all sorts of surprises for us. I believe He will also prick peoples hearts to give to us. We need $3000 a month!!! Plus other monies for our move and set up in Africa ie: cars, furniture.
It is my job to simply "Ask" and get the word out about our need. We are asking that you would prayerfully consider supporting us. Specifically a commitment of monthly donations for a year. It would be nice for us to know how much we have coming in monthly. We have a very easy donation sight set up. It is powered by egiving, 100% of the proceeds goes to us, they do not take a cut. You can set it all up online, it is safe, secure and you can print off a tax deductible paper at the end.
We are blessed to be the ones called to GO! We are blessed to know people that are called to SEND! I want to thank everyone in advance for your support no matter how big or small. Your support in prayer is crucial and if God calls you to pray for us that is just as valuable even more so.
Please consider donating to our family while we go and serve in South Africa!
Blessings,
Andrea
At that point I began asking God for things, not for just anything or the things I desire, but for the things He had put on my heart. I began asking for all sorts of things and guess what He provided bigger than I ever thought. He showed up, He worked things out, He was Lord, boss, giver, redeemer, Savior, Helper, protecter... and so much more.
We are in the season of raising support. I refuse to do some kind of show to raise money. God has made it clear He wants us to go and brought about all sorts of surprises for us. I believe He will also prick peoples hearts to give to us. We need $3000 a month!!! Plus other monies for our move and set up in Africa ie: cars, furniture.
It is my job to simply "Ask" and get the word out about our need. We are asking that you would prayerfully consider supporting us. Specifically a commitment of monthly donations for a year. It would be nice for us to know how much we have coming in monthly. We have a very easy donation sight set up. It is powered by egiving, 100% of the proceeds goes to us, they do not take a cut. You can set it all up online, it is safe, secure and you can print off a tax deductible paper at the end.
We are blessed to be the ones called to GO! We are blessed to know people that are called to SEND! I want to thank everyone in advance for your support no matter how big or small. Your support in prayer is crucial and if God calls you to pray for us that is just as valuable even more so.
Please consider donating to our family while we go and serve in South Africa!
Blessings,
Andrea
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Sell everything in our house sale
If you are in the Franklin TN area you are welcome to come to our "open house" sell everything sale. It will be held Monday June 28th - Saturday July 3rd! M-F 1-7 and Sat 9-5
We have everything a house could want: Kitchen items, furniture (inside and outside), toys, clothes, decor, pictures, artwork, sheets, blankets, linens, towels... EVERYTHING!
We are going to be putting up pictures on Facebook later today. I will have to get a link on here when the pics are up.
Please come and buy our things this will help us get to Africa and also get some things once we get there!
Our Address:
3009 Smith Lane
Franklin, TN 37069
Directions:
From Franklin Road
left or right on S. Berrys Chapel Rd.
Right on Lynwood Drive into Lynwood Downs.
First left on Smith Lane.
First Left on Clubhouse Lane.
First house on Right
From Hillsboro Road
left or right on Berrys Chapel Rd
Stay right onto S.Berrys chapel Rd
first left on Lynwood Drive into Lynwood Downs
First left on Smith Lane.
First Left on Clubhouse Lane.
First house on Right
Monday, June 14, 2010
Hallelujah to the Lord Jesus Christ now and forever more!
A little backround to my story I'm going to tell. We feel that the Lord wants us to be in SA the beginning of Sept. We have been walking in faith in this direction, yet we knew that we needed our Visas to be done by a certain time or we would not be able to go by then. Now, as much as our hearts desire to be there as soon as possible we also knew that if the Lord did not want us to be there in Sep His will is the only will we want to follow.
I went to bed many a night praying for God's provision for the funds for our passports/visas and for the money toward our flights. We have been selling things and getting ready for a huge garage sale, but God keeps telling me that we WILL NOT make this happen that it is His to do. So, we rest in His truth and the Words He gives us.
The other night He woke me up and impressed on me that I needed to read 1Samuel 12:16 "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!" The Lord continues to tell me to just Stand! Stand still, Stand!, Stand and hear the Lord, Stand and wait... all over Scripture He has told me that HE WILL DO THIS, we will just stand!
That brings us to "the story" for today...the "God story"! We went to church today and after church our dear, precious friends, that God has recently given us, blessed us more than we could have ever asked or hoped for. A little side not... I love the body of Christ. I love that God choses some to go and some to send, I LOVE the body of Christ. If I stumble with my words over this God story it is only because I am in AWE of His faithfulness, in utter, humble awe over the goodness of my God. Our dear friends that are quickly becoming like family to my heart told us that they would like to pay for our passports, visas and help to take care of our tickets to SA!!! Hallelujah to the Lord Jesus Christ Now and Forever more!!!
1 Samuel 12:16 "Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!"
As we walk down this unknown road we are on, we are not alone, God is there every step of the way and one thing I know is that I am not in control. It is awesome to literally watch God do this! He is working this all out. From the very beginning of our call to South Africa, He has worked out the who, the what and the where. He is providing through His children for His children because He loves us all so much. What a blessing to be a part of this! I am overwhelmed by God's goodness and cant quite figure out why He would want to use us, yet HE DOES!!! I am brought to tears over how real and how involved the Lord is in all of our lives, I am quite in love with my Savior.
If you don't know Him, you gotta get you some Jesus!!! Your life will never, ever be the same, and that is a good thing!
Blessings, Andrea and the rest of the Render fam
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Homesick
Today I am homesick for my home in South Africa. The funny thing is that I have never been there, but my heart is already there :) The needs of the people there are ever before me; the children at the orphanage, the people in Mashai, Lesotho, Our church and the needs in the community. I constantly am thinking of projects we can do to raise money for the people in Lesotho... and I have some good ideas (YAY)!
Sometimes it is hard to believe we will actually be living there soon. We are trying to be faithful here on our end, getting all the little details tied up. It doesn't always go the way we plan. Things don't sell, finances are tight, curve balls are thrown... What I do know is that the Lord is not at all surprised, or knocked of track. He knows our every need, our time frame and all that has to happen for us to move.
It is actually relaxing to know that He is faithful and we only have to do what He puts in front of us. We do not have to MAKE things happen! This is something that I have to remind myself of when I start to get worried about "time frames".
Another way to look at this is that the Lord is also working on others at the same time. Some He is stirring to support, some will be processing our Visas, Some will be pricing insurance, tickets.... There are many involved in our move, we are just part of this move.
If any of you know of people that would want to support us on our move would you let them know about us. I know the part we play, and am praying for all of those involved in this move. I can't wait!!!
Blessings,
Andrea
Sometimes it is hard to believe we will actually be living there soon. We are trying to be faithful here on our end, getting all the little details tied up. It doesn't always go the way we plan. Things don't sell, finances are tight, curve balls are thrown... What I do know is that the Lord is not at all surprised, or knocked of track. He knows our every need, our time frame and all that has to happen for us to move.
It is actually relaxing to know that He is faithful and we only have to do what He puts in front of us. We do not have to MAKE things happen! This is something that I have to remind myself of when I start to get worried about "time frames".
Another way to look at this is that the Lord is also working on others at the same time. Some He is stirring to support, some will be processing our Visas, Some will be pricing insurance, tickets.... There are many involved in our move, we are just part of this move.
If any of you know of people that would want to support us on our move would you let them know about us. I know the part we play, and am praying for all of those involved in this move. I can't wait!!!
Blessings,
Andrea
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Passports and Visas...oh my!
We have moved out of our old home that we have been in for 4 years. Now we are in the purging stage of this move. I am selling everything and right now we are going through all of our belongings. This is a daunting task as we have been married for almost 16 years and have 4 children... thus we have a lot of stuff we do not need!!! I do need to blog about our God story of getting us out of our last home and into the home we are living in now. Truly God had His hand on the move and provided for us more than we ever expected to be provided for.
On a business note we are having to get passports and visas for our family. The cost to get these is $890. This is a lot of money for us and so we are asking for your support. There is much cost to this move and there will be needs for support monthly when we leave. If the Lord places a desire on your heart to bless us with your support you can donate to us right on our blog. We have an account with e giving and you can set up a one time donation or monthly donations, they even give you a statement for your taxes. All of the monies donated to us go directly to us also, e giving does not take a percentage!!!
We would ask anyone that is following us would prayerfully consider supporting us as the time crunch for our departure is upon us. We know the Lord will provide because He has been in this move since day 1. We are so thankful for all of you that read our blog and keep up with us and your prayer support. We could not do this without all the love and support we have from our family and friends.
Many Blessings,
Andrea
On a business note we are having to get passports and visas for our family. The cost to get these is $890. This is a lot of money for us and so we are asking for your support. There is much cost to this move and there will be needs for support monthly when we leave. If the Lord places a desire on your heart to bless us with your support you can donate to us right on our blog. We have an account with e giving and you can set up a one time donation or monthly donations, they even give you a statement for your taxes. All of the monies donated to us go directly to us also, e giving does not take a percentage!!!
We would ask anyone that is following us would prayerfully consider supporting us as the time crunch for our departure is upon us. We know the Lord will provide because He has been in this move since day 1. We are so thankful for all of you that read our blog and keep up with us and your prayer support. We could not do this without all the love and support we have from our family and friends.
Many Blessings,
Andrea
Friday, May 7, 2010
Beautiful Things
What a wild ride we have been on. Since Shelby has been back from Africa we have begun the process of moving. We are moving out of the house we have been in for almost 4 years, selling all of our belongings and getting everything done and together that we need to do to move to South Africa. This has not been without attack. The very real battle fought in the Heavenly realm is upon us also the very real battle between Spirit and Flesh has been raging.
God is doing a refining work on all of us. Oh Boy! I can't say that it is easy to have His scalpel on my life, but I can say that I know that He loves us so! That He desires only good and that He is working Himself into us daily. For that I rest in His ever loving hands and have peace.
We would welcome your prayers for all the details. We need for God to work out living arrangements for us and also direct our every step with our move overseas. Here is a song that has been a huge blessing to me and my family.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Kulani Kahle
Jesse, Pastor Shaun and I at the orphanage with some of the kids
Mitch playing with one of the children
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