Posts Tagged ‘faith’

The New Positive is a Negative

Friday, March 16th, 2012

Positive is a NegativeThe best news I can get is a negative, a zero. How did the test go? Nothing there! In this respect, I want to fail these tests. Earlier this week I had a pet-scan where they put radioactive isotopes through me via IV, put me in a dark room, and an hour later processed me thru a large donut that clicks and whirs. Then the cat-scan is where they put holy-mother-of-hot-sauce thru my veins and send me thru again. These chemical cocktails attach and light up any fast growing cells in my body (and my trip to cancer started with this 8 months ago). But they showed NOTHING. I’m smiling, really big! Hallelujah!

I’m not complaining, but while I was going thru chemo and radiation, I was doing something to fight this. Now I am on my own and the only thing I can do is be healthy. I must eat better, sleep more, de-stress, and continue to rely as heavily on my faith as I did in the dark times. My doctor (who I love) will see me a couple times a year to put me thru those test once again. And I will pray for a negative and be at peace because I had some truly remarkable people who walked with me and gave me such appreciation for the cancer journey I was on.

After all, ultimate healing is heaven with Christ, and that’s a real positive!

Scarves Of Love

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

So thrilled to take lovingly knit scarves from the ladies of N. Street Village and blessed at Luther Place in Washington D.C. to Moscow.  I was able to give these to the teen and adult members of the Student Venture Russia Project who wore the warm neck wear with the goal of being moved by the Holy Spirit to give their scarf away!

Stories are filtering in as folk were inspired to gift their scarf; one went to a Russian teacher who was the head of a christian teacher association in the town of Volgograd. She sat in on my class and was stern and taking lots of notes. Later we went to tea and she tearfully told me of her desire to have a camp like ours in her home town and of her own faith. I gave her mine!

One went to an interpreter who made the huge difference  in a beginners class. One went to an orphanage, and several went to Russian students who prayed to live Christ-like lives.  Mind you, we had been spoiled in the warmth of the scarves. It was a sacrifice AND a gift to give them away!

Leap Of Faith

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

Today in our class of Russian teens, we shared our personal testimony.  Talk about putting it all out there.  Our topic was “Character” and what that meant in today’s world. Reputation: an intangible that you can never get back if you give it away for worldly gratification.  Honesty, integrity, values,morals. Lastly, that which makes it all possible = Faith.

With heart pounding, I gave my 3 minute personal story, and my American teen helpers gave theirs (I was so proud of them).  Half the class was in tears and we ended with lots of hugs.  I don’t know if we got through, but seeds were planted.

I am sorry that there arent photos yet, internet weakness, and late nights here!

English Camp

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Let’s see, how do I describe this experience???

We have 37 teens and adults from the U.S. who have raised support$ to travel all the way to the outskirts of Moscow and rendezvous with 100 Russian teens (teachers and some parents too) who have given up their Spring break and paid a lot of money for this mutual experience.  The Americans have a curriculum  at advanced and Basic levels  of English that we are teaching the Russians.  Their desire is to better their English: the key to success in life.(?)

Our theme is “Preparing for the Future” and ultimately as we get to know them and talk about choices, and challenges,we ultimately share our Christian faith with them.  We are making friends, and trying to be supportive and loving.

Our facility is a pretty nice dorm-like compound, with auditorium, cafeteria, meeting rooms and sleeping quarters. We are warm and cozy inside, but enjoying the snow and it’s challenges!

Out Of Africa

Friday, October 1st, 2010

Brenda and Perry Jansen

This summation is probably for my benefit as I reflect on the incredible experience Steve and I had In Malawi and South Africa.  Safari’s are not glamorous but folk who dedicate their lives to helping others are rock stars! They are the people who captured my heart on this God-led journey.

Dr. Perry Jansen: visionary, doctor,awesome guitarist, expert in AIDS and tropical diseases, Man of God, Caring father, colleague to many, and funny.

Brenda: devoted Mom and helpmate, tender and focused heart, hostess, musical,anchor.

Nate: bright student, college bound, passionate worship leader, great guitarist, kind big brother, huge potential.

Jansen Family

Erin: emerging woman, playful kid, good writer, great big sister, sweet tooth.

Olivia: small voice, big smile, large heart, pixie, chocolate bundle of joy and delight.

Blessing: phenomenal natural talent, dependable, quiet, polite, appreciative. Bird painter extraordinaire.

Donald:  supportive friend, gracious, focused ladder climber.

Anna, Miriam, Joseph, Lester, Ida, Lucy, Octavius, Grant, John Hamilton, John Fielder, Cory, Elizabeth, Stalkers, Colleen, Maxwell, Agnes, the kids of Takambe, nurses in frilly caps, Blue-gingham girls, the 4:30 ambulance pile-in, Chijenzes, ironed shirts, short ties, and the miracles God brought about to pass every single day.

Blessing and Donald

Things I wont miss:  Goats, potholes, crumbling roads, cold showers, bicycles, smoke, power outages, no internet, pushy vendors, extreme poverty, flying for 26 hours, converting kwatcha$, nsima.

Things I did miss or will miss:  Family at home, new friends in  Malawi, wine, big salads, servants, the warmth of the people, power outages (hey candlelight is nice) the African worship, people with passion, childrens’  faces, visiting, tv-less, early nights, early mornings, MASH episodes.

Dick and Charlotte Day

In Zomba we now have fond memories of Moira and Steve Chimombo, Dick and Charlotte Day, Windeson’s cooking, Winston, Ben, Jean,Irene, Isabel,Catherine, Faith the villages of Simyoni, Kawiya,  Makundula, the Mponda School and Zomba Central Hospital.

And we took the love of wonderful folk who donated panties, time, baby caps, pencils, quilts, stencils and funds to make it all happen,  and PRAYER and those who offered it up that kept us safe and healthy!! and a husband who shared a passion and humbly served others. Love him even more.

Thank you Editor, you keep me grounded and connected.

What a journey!

XO

Training Day

Friday, September 24th, 2010

Steve and I had the privilege of being part of a training day at Kawiya Village outside of  Zomba. We knew to bring head scarves and panties to distribute and you would have thought is was Christmas!!! The singing and dancing that the Gogos did with their new bandanas ( tied all sorts of ways) and the children, many who immediately put on their new underwear.

We prepared and ate lunch with the village and presented knit quilts to the 2 chiefs. We were there about 5 hours.

Soy Grinding

As we were leaving and hugging and singing and dancing, a Gogo in tears thanked us and said ” the Love of God brought you here.” And I’m thinking in my mind,  “wait a minute, lots of planning, lots of money, and lots of sacrifice got us to that crazy place.”  But in an instant, I was shown a bigger picture.  Because I love the Lord, retired, joined SEEDS, see others putting their faith in action, decided to step out, had Partners in Hope and Gogos capture my heart (and it catching many of you)…Yes, I joined her in tears because God loved me enough to bring me there.