Blessed Mother’s Day

Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. God loves a cheerful giver. The best way to show our gratitude to God and the people is to accept everything with joy. – Blessed Mother Teresa

Women wait at a clinic in Addis Ababa’s red light district.

Thank God for all the women in my life who are mothers. From my mom, mother-in-law, to my wonderful wife, Linda, and others.

Betty Gebre Hiwot talks with a pregnant woman at a clinic in Addis.

Friday in St. Louis, we were privileged to celebrate International Crisis Aid’s (http://crisisaid.org/) 10 years of miraculous work. It was a great evening with our friends, Pat and Sue Bradley, and many other wonderful people, including our dear Loretta, and, from Ethiopia, Betty Gebre Hiwot and new friend Shitaye.

Today, I pray for all mothers. Thank you, Jesus. Continue to guide and protect them.

A young girl, whose parents had died from AIDS, is seen with a house mother at a children’s center in Sebeta.

Help me to be more like Jesus.

Pat and Sue Bradley of International Crisis Aid

Famine in the Horn of Africa

Our oldest son’s father-in-law sent me this message from New Jersey today:

“Thinking over the period from the 1960’s to the present, it seems that the Horn of Africa has been going through these catastrophes every decade or so.

“I understand that there are cycles of drought and floods.  And all the wars of “Liberation from Colonial Imperialism”.

“But there have been millions, if not billions, of $$$ poured into that area – governments and NGOs.

“Has all that money gone to just maintain the people?  What has been done to develop a local economy so the indigenous people have a self-sustaining life?”

These are some very good questions. Here’s how I answered him.

You raise good questions and I’ll to answer based on my own limited experience and knowledge, most of it relating to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia and Somalia, in some ways, are similar to Haiti. They are dreadfully poor economies.

All were governed by leaders who were dictators. Or, the regimes became dictatorships. Nevertheless there have been good and worthwhile organizations and international aid projects.

Progress in these countries can seem almost imperceptibly small, even non-existent. It’s almost like teaching, which Tanya knows. I was a teacher for three years, in, Ethiopia. Sometimes you think you’re just banging your head against a wall and you may not realize for a long time who you’ve reached.

In humanitarian relief terms I believe we do it because it’s the right thing to do. Because of the accidents of our births “we” are here and “they” are there. It’s important to find the right group to support – and then we save people, one life at a time. Each of our lives is so very precious.

And, I believe International Crisis Aid (http://www.crisisaid.org/), the group I’ve gone to Ethiopia with 3 times in the past 4 years, is very worthy of support. Their founder and president is in Ethiopia right now organizing their famine relief effort.

Prayerfully, encourage all my friends to support ICA.

For our brothers and sisters in the Horn of Africa

For ourselves and our sisters and brothers, we should consider supporting ICA‘s work in Ethiopia. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. – James 2:14-18

A great prayer for our sisters and brothers in East Africa

Let us pray … I found this prayer early today.

Also, I ask for prayer for my sister Patricia Ivory who is currently on a mission trip to Uganda. She’s seen here in a photo during our mission in May to Ethiopia.

Thank you, Jesus, for your compassion. Use us, as never before, to reflect your love here on Earth.

Article in the Herald (for Ethiopia and Eritrea PC volunteers)

Hot off the cyber-space press is an article in The Herald about our recent mission to Ethiopia.

My two sons – Sean and Matt

I am proud to be the father of two great young men, Sean and Matt.

In less than three weeks, on Bastille Day (July 14), Sean and his fiancee Tanya will get married in New Jersey. It should be grand combining of two loving young people. We all can’t wait.

Tomorrow, Matt and I travel to East Lansing for the long-awaited U2 concert. Can’t wait for that either.

Blessed am I to be loved by Linda and two wonderful sons.

I was born
I was born to be with you
In this space and time
After that and ever after I haven’t had a clue
Only to break rhyme
This foolishness can leave a heart black and blue

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar
I was born
I was born to sing for you
I didn’t have a choice but to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
From the womb my first cry, it was a joyful noise…

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love can heal such a scar

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent

Only love, only love can leave such a mark
But only love, only love unites our hearts

Justified till we die, you and I will magnify
The Magnificent
Magnificent
Magnificent

U2′s Magnificent

Two blessings: Dr. Henok and Betty

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Today as I read this psalm I thought immediately of Dr. Henok and Betty, who lead ICA‘s work in Ethiopia. David’s words say it all. I love them.

I will bless the Lord at all times; praise shall be always in my mouth. My soul will glory in the Lord that the poor may hear and be glad. Magnify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, who answered me, delivered me from all my fears. Look to God that you may be radiant with joy and your faces may not blush for shame. In my misfortune I called, the Lord heard and saved me from all distress. The angel of the Lord, who encamps with them, delivers all who fear God. Learn to savor how good the Lord is; happy are those who take refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you holy ones; nothing is lacking to those who fear him. The powerful grow poor and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Who among you loves life, takes delight in prosperous days? Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The Lord has eyes for the just and ears for their cry. The Lord’s face is against evildoers to wipe out their memory from the earth. When the just cry out, the Lord hears and rescues them from all distress. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed. Many are the troubles of the just, but the Lord delivers from them all. God watches over all their bones; not a one shall be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; those who hate the just are condemned. The Lord redeems loyal servants; no one is condemned whose refuge is God.
– Psalm 34