South Africa May 2011

Click here to give. South Africa May 2011

You've always wanted to be a part of a mission team

Please meet sweet little Jeremiah. He is in the AIDS hospice of the orphanage that I will be visiting and volunteering at while in Durban, South Africa.

Jeremiah was born to a 14 year old who was gang raped. The rapes traumatized her so badly that she literally became mentally challenged. She didn't know she was pregnant or know that she had a baby.

Jeremiah came to CLC when he was 4 months old. The rapists have tried to kill the girl two times so she can't testify against them.

Jeremiah, 9 months, has AIDS but has been thriving since he has been with CLC. But as you can see he is extremely frail and sick. Like him, about 50% of those who come to a hospice like this with love and prayer are able to last months and even years longer than expected.

If you would like to be a part of my team of supporters, please click the "Give now" link and select my name, GayBrielle Crawford. Gifts of any amount are accepted and helpful. Give now.

Be Celebrated

Today I had lunch with a 17 year old kid that clearly has experienced joy in his life. I could hear it in the way he spoke and the smile that radiated from his eyes. It was so refreshing to see someone this young have so much joy in their life. During our lunch he mentioned a video that he had seen on about a bus driver that was being celebrated because of his birthday.

Bus Driver Celebrated

A bus driver is still someone's important center of life that has given purpose to someone else's existence. We are also and thus, deserve to be celebrated in such a way that it surprises us. Why do we have such low expectations of being celebrated? Why aren't we exited and overjoyed about another year of life that we have been blessed to have on this earth? We are all here for a purpose. If people haven't forgotten to celebrate your life that doesn't mean you are forgotten. If you are reading this, know that I celebrate you. I am thankful for your life and you matter more than you'll ever know! If you know someone who has yet to be celebrated in a way that lets them know they matter, why not start planning that surprise and make it happen for them. You will never regret celebrating another's person existence in life.....never.

Last, but certainly not least, don't forget to celebrate yourself. Realize your importance internally and let that shine outwardly on your face (ever so humbly I might add). Then your joy of life will create a ripple effect on those around you. If you don't believe me I can set you up to have lunch with this 17 year old kid.

Delight in someone...give them your true smile.

Smiles are funny things....mostly a transparent indication of how someone is feeling. My observation has been that if someone is legitimately happy to see you, their smile radiates from the core of who they are. There becomes an effortless joy that spills out from their eyes. They embrace you before you ever even physically hug. Isn't that just the best feeling in the world.

Very seldom do I see adults express this type of emotion. However, when I see the faces of the children I know and care for, not only do I emit this joyful smile, they often beat me to the punch with their own heart piercing smile. I don't know about you, but it's so great to receive that kind of welcome. As I reflect on this, I think about my countdown to South Africa.

I'm excited. I'm scared. I'm anxious. I'm stressed. As I try to gear up my heart and mind for the experience of facing dying children and adults living in poverty I wonder when is the last time they've seen a comforting, "I'm sooooo happy to see you that I can feel the joy in bones" smile. I want the smile I give to be that smile that says, "You're welcomed here and I love you because of the way Christ loves me", but I afraid that I might show all the fear and anxiety instead. Like so many other things, I can only pray and prepare my heart with the things I know to be true as of this moment. I cling to these verse and promises when I find myself needed a fresh and tru way to really smile at other people;

2Cor 10:3,4,5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and

bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

2Cor 12:9,10 My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness...… for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Eph 3:16 That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and

long-suffering with joyfulness.

2Tim 2:1 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2Tim 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.

Heb 11:33,34 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight.

1Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1Jn 2:14b I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.

Rev 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

So, your load is heavy? This makes more sense....

“I hear religious minded people say all the time with good intentions. ‘God will never place a burden on you so heavy that you cannot possibly carry it.’
Really?
My experience is that God will place a burden on you so heavy that you cannot possibly carry it alone. He will break your back and your will. He will buckle your legs until you fall flat beneath the crushing weight of your load. All the while He will walk beside you waiting for you to come to the point where you must depend on Him.
‘My power is made perfect in your weakness,’ He says, as we strain under our burden.
Whatever the burden, it might indeed get worse, but know this-God is faithful. And while we change and get old, He does not. When we get weaker, He remains strong. And in our weakness and humility, He offers us true, lasting, transforming, and undeserved grace.”

-Greg Lucas