Knowing what I don't know

"Then he taught me, and he said to me,

    “Take hold of my words with all your heart;

    keep my commands, and you will live.

5 

Get wisdom, get understanding;

    do not forget my words or turn away from them.

6 

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

    love her, and she will watch over you.

7 

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.

    Though it cost all you have,[b] get understanding.

8 

Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

    embrace her, and she will honor you.

9 

She will give you a garland to grace your head

    and present you with a glorious crown.”  

Proverbs 4:4-9

Today I'm weary of all the new in my life.  New places, new people, new personalities.  I am good with people, but beginning again in a new place is sort of like selling a good used car.  No matter what is really happening in my soul & mind my exterior is saying "Hi! I'm so happy to meet you!  I can't wait to get to know more about you!"  All of the new is making me doubt what I know.  Not necessarily what I know about the church, but what I know about myself.  It's all those 11pm thoughts that rattle my brain making it hard to sleep that capture my confidence and fill me with doubt.  It's in times like this when I turn to faith and those sacred "touched-by-God" experiences in my life. It's in these transitions that I realize how much I don't know...and rely on the wisdom of God to lend me a hand.

Hearth to Hearth Ministries is another area in which I would ask for your prayers and help.  As you probably have read previously, about 2 1/2 years ago I became the Exec. Director for three orphanages in Africa.  Due to some mismanagement and embezzling of funds the organization was in dire straights back then. I felt it was only the right thing to do for me to take it on, as I love the children and staff people working in Africa so very much.  This week after paying our monthly expenses, our general fund has neared only $10,000.  This means that we only have enough funding to cover one or two months.  The rising costs of food, paying fare wages to the staff, and repairing and rehab-ing structures that were built improperly has nearly shut the ministry down.  

In addition my team here in the US, all volunteers, has faced some struggle as members of our team deal with family and health issues.  I do not know what to do.  I cannot allow 150 children and adults to simply lose that which sustains their lives.  I do not have the skills for fundraising or networking and we do not have funds to pay people who do.  

So, I'm asking all of you to help (at least the few who read this!)  We need your smarts...we need your connections.  Could we come and share about HTHM to your church, small groups, mission committees?  Would you be interested in sponsoring a child ($30/month?)  Could you help me find a larger organization to partner with, in order that we don't lose this ministry that is changing lives?

Lord, I pray you will pour out your wisdom upon us.  Give us insight into your plans for these children, these churches, these families.  Help us to see others as you see them.  Fill us with a love that moves us into action.  Amen.