What God values vs. What I value

Sometimes you look at an event or situation and go what is the point. You understand on a basic level what the point is but on the deeper level, what is the purpose, you don't understand why an event is happening. That was me, two days ago Dan Ohlerking, Earl Rentz, Mr. Dave Ohlerking & Miss Jean Ohlerking organized a day where we got all of our Children's Cup staff together. So I understood in my mind that it was an event to draw us all togther and speak about where Children's Cup is going. I knew that but I didn't really understand why the nice lunch, why the day of fun, why at this point in time. Ha, what God thinks is important is so often different, wildly different than what I think is important. The event brought us together, it was a direct action that spoke to our international & Swazi staff appreciation. Even more it was a time of vision, bringing all of us together as one and sharing what God has spoken to all of us. Vision, God sized vision, on where he is leading us. Thirdly, it was brotherhood. The day reaffirmed our status as brothers and sisters in Christ. We stood together, ready to take on the work ahead. Bound together in love, slaves to each other, slaves to the cause. Once again let me state, God looks and values things differently. It reminds me of being like Mary...it also makes me think about what Dan said to me this morning. Spiritual input, while maybe not measurable is vastly underestimated by the world, and dare I say the church. Lets get back to being a Mary, lets get back to valuing what Jesus valued, lets get behind his vision and his perspective.

Here are some pics of our group in powerful times of prayer, praise and unity.




More pics and another related post to be added soon, hold me accountable, please!!! 

Vusi & Sibongiseni

This past Friday I was busy moving around the Carepoints getting things done, visiting the ladies, checking in on the teachers and the like. I stopped by the Moneni Carepoint and Phindile (the teacher) told me that two of the boys in her pre-school were both chronically ill. Sibongiseni & Vusi both had visible signs of illness. Sibongiseni had snot running down his face and was showing signs of malnutrition. Vusi had a huge infection in his mouth. He was in a lot of pain. I took them to visit Miss Teresa at another Carepoint where she was hosting a clinic. She gave Vusi some antibiotic and she gave Sibongiseni a vitamin supplement and some ORS (a salt mixture used to stop diarrhea). Anyways, these boys are both really sick…I had to go to Ngwane Park Carepoint to check on some children that had stopped coming to the school. Vusi & Sibongiseni had to wait for me for quite some time as I went out in search of the Khoza boys and another little boy. I came back to Vusi crying because he was in so much pain and Sibongiseni kind of wild eyed…just in another world. I began to think and wonder who cares for these boys, who loves them. We try through our Carepoints, specifically our bible clubs & teachers to extend care for the boys but my mind wanders what about when either one of them is facing a crisis…who cares for them, who stands with them? Ben has said it before, maybe we are foolish to think we can care for thousands of children. While we might be foolish, it would be more foolish to just sit by and do nothing. Our role is to help a community & group of Caregivers to take care of children where they might not be able to on their own. We don’t have it figured out but we’re not about to give up. We have taken Vusi to be tested and he is positive. Sibongiseni we’re not sure about, we are trying to take him to the Baylor clinic but we need his mother’s approval and participation. Pray that we don’t let even one child slip through the cracks, pray for our teachers who almost every day come across more children that are chronically sick and probably infected by that scourge called HIV.

Here is a pic of Sibongiseni, looking much better after the simple treatments provided by Miss Teresa. He is the small one who is closest to me.



 

Lately...

So, what’s been going on you ask. Well we had a couple of days off because of the Reed Dance and everybody headed out of town except me. I had things I need to prepare for and just really felt that God wanted me to stay put. Well, that Monday when everyone left I was pretty sick and then for half of the day Tuesday I was sick too. I didn’t really move out of bed so I did finish a 550 page book in two days though. I swear if you ever want to do something the next day, don’t pick up a Robert Ludlum book. Can’t put em down, its kind of like the TV series 24, or Pringles potato chips….once you pop, you can’t stop…Good entertainment books, good for Swaziland, gets your mind off of the problems.
So anyways, on Thursday we held a soccer tournament for our Carepoints and some other U-13 & U-15 teams. It was a good time as we had over 200 boys show up and play. It was hectic trying to transport them all around and feed them but overall it was a success. Our whole aim of the tournament was to keep the boys busy during the school holidays. We held the tournament at the end of the school holidays so the boys were busy preparing over the whole holiday time, 3 weeks.
Next up on Friday and Saturday we had a teachers training. We talked about the start of the new school term but the main point of the training was to introduce them to our Child Leadership program. Three children from each Carepoint will participate in our DYNAMIC program. Every other week they will come to meet with Auntie Gugu for training & classes on leadership. The DYNAMIC program’s aim is to help these children become servant leaders and increase their basic understanding of the Christian faith. It’ll be a fun & exciting adventure as we try to unroll this new program. I think its impact could be amazing so please be praying with us for our DYNAMICS!!!
Oh and on Sunday I got whooped by an old guy in Tennis, eish, maybe I shouldn’t have shared that one…oh well?

- Kristen teaching a dance/drama to our teachers


- Some of the boys at the soccer tournament
 

Not Feeling Inspired

The last day or so I've been feeling really uninspired...just feeling like I don't have much to give. Its not that anything has been going badly lately just feeling worn out. Its not because I've been overworked or anything like that...just feeling worn out. Not sure where this came from...might be that most the people my age that I've known have left. Lindsey, Holly, Beth, Amanda, Kara, Patrick Murray, Caleb and many others have come and gone. Just kind of missing being able to get away and hang with some peeps my age. I know God is faithful in these things...its weird how much strength connections & friend can give you. God is my inspiration though, need to press into him and recieve so I can once again go out and reflect, overflow, give.

Much love to all of you praying for me, the Cup' Team and the Children!