"The problem with life is it's so daily."

Connor age 4.

The "Twinks" after lunch.

Isn’t the title of this blog the simplest statement and yet so profound? Those of us who enjoy good health, warmth, plenty of food, and are loved by someone may agree with the statement. But how about those who are fighting to live each day? It certainly changes the meaning of the statement.

We are doing well as a family and know that many prayers are given on our behalf and answered by our God. We recognize His blessings everyday in the big and the small dailies of daily living. In a little over a week I will move from my paying job as a nurse to a full time volunteer at CAM center and working with Keegan. The plan is that my time at CAM will be split, 50% working with Keegan on Quest and other projects, and 50% working in another department of CAM (yet to be determined). Initially I will still work 2-3 Mondays a month at First Family to help Leslie the LVN in the transition to my job. I am excited about this move and I really have total peace from the Lord about this change in my life. God has always provided for us when He asked us to give anything up, and there’s no reason to think He won’t do so again. Keegan is excited that I can join him in ministry and in his travels. All the details aren’t worked out yet, but it’s coming together bit by bit. Please continue praying for us in this new endeavor.

Our family is well. Please check our prayer requests for updates on those things we for which we have requested prayer. Above are two new pictures to show some of the blessings in our family.

Come to the edge...

"Come to the edge, he said. They said:
We are afraid. Come to the edge, he said.
They came. He pushed them,
And they flew..."
- Guillaume Apollinaire

Well yesterday I came to the edge and God pushed me. I’m not sure if I flew, but I know I left the security of the nest. You are probably wondering what in the world am I talking about. Yesterday I gave notice at work of my intent to leave at the end of the month. I had been praying about it since October, but yesterday I was “pushed” by God and I knew it was time. Many of you might be thinking, “What’s so hard or so big about resigning?” First I resigned a nice paying job for no job. Keegan and I have always taught our children you don’t leave one job until you have another, but that’s just what I did. Second I gave my career of nursing to the Lord and said it’s yours. I have clung to it as a stronghold forever, but I am going to let God become my stronghold of security. I would say that was two pretty big steps for me to take in one day. My boss is not a believer in Jesus Christ, and he certainly didn’t understand the what or the why of my leaving and was deeply disappointed that I would abandon him. I don’t know if I would have done it if God had not divinely orchestrated it for me and given me the resolve to say the words “I’m leaving.”

Now you are probably thinking, “OK, why are you leaving?” For the last year or so Keegan and I have been talking about and dreaming about my returning to full time ministry to work along side him and to also work at CAM center as a full time volunteer. My wonderful husband sees gifts in me I’m not sure are there and feels like I have something to offer there at CAM and being with him in his travels and his work. I too have felt that God wants more of me than I have been willing to give since we returned from Mexico 7 years ago. My journal reminds me of all I have said to the Lord, and now He is asking me to trust Him. He’s never failed me and I should have no doubts, but I must confess I do have fears and doubts. Pray for me as I come to mind. I want to fly…..

I love this thought of Beth Moore: “The wonders God wants to do in all our tomorrows are prepared for in our todays.”

Summoned to Lead

The following is a quote from Summoned to Lead by Leonard Sweet.

A historian's job is to tell the truth about the past. A consultant's job is to tell the truth about the present. A psychiatrist's job is to help you tell the truth about who you are. A theologian's job is to tell the truth about God. A leader's job is to rise to the occasion, to imagine the best possible future and to tell the truth about how to get there. A leader's voice rings the bell of the future.

If you are not familiar with this book (which is a favorite of mine) it is the retelling of the story of Ernest Shackleton who commanded in 1914 the doomed British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Shackleton lead a group of explorers who were to cross Antarctica sea to sea for the British, but he never made it. When his ship was within one hundred miles of the continent he and his crew became stranded in the most hostile place to mankind place on earth. Obviously this failure is not what made Shackleton one of the world's greatest leaders. No, it was the act of bringing home safe every one of his crew and how he accomplished such a seemingly impossible task. There are other books written about this expedition and even a movie made. The story is worth reading anytime, but this particular book focuses on the summons to lead, not the call. Although I am not gifted in leadership I was captured by the concept of leadership presented in this book and by the need for such leadership in our country today. Elections are nearing and we are choosing leaders for our nation. We have a responsibility to vote, but our choices are limited. It would be wonderful to have one or more of the many candidates rise to moral courage and ring the bell of truth. Please pray as never before in the months left to us for those candidates who will be elected to office. Not only is voting a right, a duty and a privilege, but so is prayer for each of us Christians.

Be A Listener Today

Do you ever wish someone would really listen to you? Have you ever started telling a friend or family member something that you thought was important and they didn't hear you out before they were distracted? Recently I had an idea that I wanted to share with someone, and as I started to tell her she was momentarily distracted by something else in the environment. I waited a moment to see if she would begin the conversation again by telling me to go on, but she never did. In fact, it was like I had never said anything. It has happened more than once and with many people, and I am finding myself more often than not letting the conversation just die. Each time I feel rejected even thought the listener didn't mean to hurt me.
As some of you know I took the training to become a Stephen Minister and one entire module is devoted to the art of listening. There was some great teaching and tools in the module, but there was one thing that could not be overcome with a short cut, and that was that listening is an active process that requires personal involvement, commitment and patience. In other words, listening is work. After finishing the training and beginning with care receivers, I realized just how true that was. I had to focus and pay attention and fight the wanderings of my mind and the noise of the environment. It was much like reading a heavy tome on religious thinking of instead of a Christian romance. It took effort, but with time I could listen more effectively. In Stephen Ministry it was part of my ministry, but what about in my daily living? I find I fail often. Listening is definitely a need in our world today, but if that need can't be met by strangers, family, or friends, then we still have the greatest listener sitting waiting to hear every word, every idea, every dream, every comment, or anything at all that we want to express. Jesus knew everything, but it didn't stop Him from listening to the people around Him. We have that same option today, and I have found that God is a two way communicator and great listener. He never fails me and He takes my ideas, my dreams, my thoughts, etc. and He listens and He responds. So, I am learning to feel less rejected and am turning to Him who can meet this need as well as all my other needs. Even so, He doesn't remove the responsibility we as believers each have to listen to our fellow sojourners. I guess what I am asking each of us today is to simply practice better listening whenever we can so that God can use us to help someone else by just simple listening.

"Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace
and the things by which one may edify another."
Romans 14:19

More on the Twins

Sorry everyone, but I never get tired of showing off the girls. These are their official 6 months photos. If you are wondering who is who, look at the bows. Kylee is wearing the red bow and Ashlynn has the black bow. Both girls are rolling over now and are reaching and grabbing for everything. Their little personalities are very different as are their abilities right now. If one of them gets picked up and the other doesn't, the left behind twin will cry. Both Kylee and Ashlynn are full of wide grins and beautiful smiles. Ashlynn likes to wake up early and is sunshine at that point (like her big brother Connor). Kylee on the other hand wakes up later and takes a little bit of time getting used to the day (like her big sister Alyssa). Notice their feet in the double photo. Holly can't keep their socks on because they are constantly rubbing their feet together. They are doing well and growing rapidly. Bethany went out last weekend to see them and help Holly out while she wasn't feeling well. Now Keegan and I are hoping to make a trip sometime in the near future. Connor told Keegan on the phone the other day "that he needs to come out to his house and get to know him." Don't know where that came from! Thanks for letting me be proud grandmother.

Pat goes to Israel; Jim comes home from Ghana

Below are the prayer requests from Pat, Keegan's sister who is traveling to Israel this week. We know how much she would appreciate your prayers for her and the team. Her husband Jim made his trip to Ghana and has come home with many testimonies about God's work there. Prayer can carry us to many places in the world and help us to impact the world for our Lord and Saviour.

I am writing mainly to ask you to pray for us as we put together this prayer room. There are many people groups there and only the Holy Spirit will be able to lead us to successfully honor Him in what we do.

Please pray that He will clearly speak His will over us and that we will be able to hear exactly what He wants us to do and then be obedient.

Please pray that we will be able to encourage national believers and the workers in the region.

Pray that we will bless the couple who is hosting us (and the Prayer Center) and be a source of encouragement for them.

Pray for our protection.

Pray that the IPCJ (International Prayer Center for Jerusalem) will be a light in a very dark world and that many will come to know our God through this.

Pray that all the financial resources for our team will be provided.

Thank you for being so faithful to pray both for both Jim and myself! We would not dare go without your prayer covering as we know that our battle is not against flesh and blood as Paul tells us in the Word.

Time is a great healer...

" Time is a great healer but a lousy beautician." author unknown.
Isn't that great? Any of you close to my age or older know just how true that statement can be. Keegan and I just went home for a quick trip to just see family, especially his dad. Everett is 90 and his sister is 94. Everett lives alone in a senior living center and is so active physically and mentally that you would guess his age at probably 15-20 years younger. Aunt Gladys is now in a nursing home and only lives in this world mentally for brief moments. They are the last of the generation in our families that went before. None of will get to choose how we age and how our final years will be, but those of us who know Christ know this world and life is only temporary and we will leave here to spend eternity in new bodies in heaven. I like what Psalm 70:10 says, " The length of our days is seventy years--or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass and we fly awayl" I know Aunt Gladys is ready to fly away, but Everett still finds much to enjoy here in this world. It was a reminder to Keegan and I to use the time God is giving us today for His glory and trust Him for tomorrow and what lies ahead. Many of us are not afraid of dying itself, but of the process. I am one of them, but this trip was reminder to me to turn my fears once again and hand them over to God who will give me His peace.

How Is the Impact of a Life Measured?

Rosa Parks was one of the first African Americans to stand up for her civil rights. One day while riding on a bus she refused to move to the back when asked to do so. Her belief in her self-worth and personal rights were challenged so she chose to say no. Many say that her actions were key to beginning the civil rights movement in our nation. Her decision to challenge the status quo was never done with the idea of starting a movement but were simply a response to personal convictions.

I believe it to be the desire of most of us to live in such a way as to impact the world around us. We all hope that our presence and actions in some way make a positive contribution to others and life in general. The fear that we all have is that we will come and go and no mark will be left by our life. An even worse thought is the possibility that no one will notice or care that we are gone.

The truth is that few of us will make a life’s impact that is recognized by great numbers of people. However, it is important to remember that the significance of the mark that we leave is not necessarily measured by its scope and historical impact. The greatest measurement of impact is how our lives measure up in the eyes of God.

A life’s impact is at its greatest point when it glorifies God. If God is glorified by our actions and attitudes, we have made our greatest contribution. The degree to which God chooses to make know this fact is up to Him. Our actions may sometimes impact one person or thousands or even world history. However, we must always remember the significance of our lives is not measured by history books or by the reactions of others. As it has been so well said, “We live for audience of one.” It is here and only here that significance as human beings is gained or lost!

16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Col 1:16 NIV

Jim and the Medical Team in Ghana Update

This will be the last email from me from Ghana. I will not have access to email before we leave. Thank each of you for praying for all of us.

Today, we went in two directions. Linda and Rusty Simpson and Barbara Graves have been working with a village east of Accra named Mamakrome. They have gotten every child in the village sponsored by World Vision. They went there today to visit. They had raised money to drill a water well for the village. We all got back so late that we did not get to hear about what all transpired but will tomorrow.

The rest of us went west to Cape Coast. We visited one of the slave castles on a rocky beach bluff. It is a beautiful structure and very well maintained and preserved. However, as you hear of the horrific conditions and treatment, its beauty diminishes greatly. The men's dungeon held about one thousand men at a time in a room no bigger than most of our houses. The rocks on the floor are worn smooth from hundreds of thousands of footsteps. They were herded down a tunnel to THE GATE OF NO RETURN, loaded onto boats, and then placed onto ships. It gives an awareness of man's inhumanity to man that still exists today. There are over 26,000,000 slaves in the world today. There are probably 50,000 in the US. The slaves were herded by other Ghanaian tribes to he castles and shipped literally all over the world. All told, somewhere between 12,000,000 and 26,000,000 were shipped from twenty or so slave castles over 300 years. I write all of this to make us all aware of that inhumanity still exists in many countries all over the world.

Today, I asked Pastor Lewis why Ghana has had political stability since March 6, 1957. His answer was very simple, "by the grace of God." Pray that God will continue to grace Ghana. This is an election year for them. They have discovered 600,000,000 million barrels of oil in the Atlantic off their coast. Pray that a leader will be elected that will us the tremendous resource wisely and not just for personal gain. Also, pray that the US will turn back to God and not be like post-Christian Europe.

God bless each of you.

Jim Howard for Mission Builsa Team 2008

3 hours and my brain is sizzling

You are probably wondering about the post before this one. I probably won't be adding too many videos to this site, but I have to explain myself. Yesterday I spent 3 hours with Brad Bridges at CAM Center. Brad is a young man in his late 20's who works in the mobilization department at CAM. The purpose of our meeting was to to look at Facebook and blogs as a tool for CAM missionaries to use. Brad's ideas and fingers on the keyboard were almost too fast for this older woman to keep up with! You all know I love the computer and the Internet so it should come as no surprise how exciting I found it to explore the possibilities and be a part of something at CAM once again. Brad showed me so many things about blogging and Facebook and how to connect the two. We needed some test things to post, and, well the baby video was worth it! It still makes me laugh. I know some of you reading this will see and understand why Facebook could be such a great tool for getting CAM's ministry out there to more folks, especially the younger group. Like it or not for us older folks connectivity and relationship building are happening more on the Internet than any other place. I have always said my 90 year old father-in-law Everett is my hero. Even today he's still reading and learning new things. He has shown me more about the computer than anyone else I know. He's my standard for aging gracefully and staying alive mentally with younger generations; thus Facebook, blogs, Internet, etc. I will be meeting with Brad again in a couple of weeks and we will continue to build on this idea and see how we can use these tools of connection and interconnection for CAM.
One of my first projects will be developing with Keegan a group on Facebook for those who have attended Quest and who will be invited to the next Quest. The idea is this will give us a common "meeting place" to share, discuss, and stay connected. One of the elements of Quest is accountability, but many miles separate us and that can sometimes easier said than done. You are probably thinking that email would work as well. Maybe, maybe not. Facebook allows for all of us to "be in one spot". Keegan will be able to lead the group with less time because it will be like everyone is in the same class room and no one can interrupt or disturb it. No emails getting lost or forgotten. Assignments can be posted and questions asked. Quest occurs twice a year and now there can be an easier way to keep it fresh and ongoing in the six months between.
Quest will be our first trial, but we are discussing how new candidates will be able to use Facebook or blogs for their support raising and for connecting to their fields of assignments in the time before their arrival on the field. Causes has already been started with the CAM Christmas ministry (those of you who use Facebook know what I am talking about) and it has shown that it may well be a viable tool. Brad had so many examples of how Facebook has already been used to either bring people to CAM's web site for more information, raise funds, or even begin the application process to join CAM. I could hardly sleep last night for thinking of new ideas and just how much I want to learn myself. What a change from my usual thoughts of all the drama of the office where I work!!!! I have so missed being a part of CAM on a more active basis. I don't know where this will lead and I don't know how involved I will be, but I know what that the time spent yesterday with Brad and the computer will help me personally continue to follow in my father-in-law Everett's footsteps. Have a great day and may you glorify God in all that you do and say.