Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” – 1 Samuel 7:12
Greetings,
This weekend I had the opportunity to take some time to reflect on how far God has brought LIA. It all started when my family and I moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after spending some time among the Masai in Kenya. After overcoming a few initial challenges our medical ministry started to thrive as we worked among the leper community not far from where we lived and through that we were able to build some wonderful relationships with some of the local churches.
Then with the help of the churches we decided to host a vacation bible school in our compound on Christmas Eve. As the word spread we soon realized that close to 400 children were likely to show up. So early that morning I ran into town to buy some bread for us to feed them. For some of the children the bread and tea we would serve would likely be the highlight of their Christmas season.
As I drove back home in my small pickup with enough bread to feed over 400 children, I was stopped by something crossing the road. It was around 5:30 and the morning fog was still heavy, so as I peered closer I made out the shape of a woman crossing the road. As I watched her, I realized she was limping and it soon became clear that she was a leper and behind her was a trash heap where there were some children looking for something to eat.
Thinking I was stopping for them the children quickly ran over to my car to beg. As my eyes connected with theirs my heart broke. They were about the same age as my boys at the time and just to think that I was going home to make them a warm breakfast while these children – for no fault of their own – had to scavenge at 5:30 in the morning, it was just not right. It was not fair. This was not the first time I had seen street children, however this was the first time I truly felt they were MY responsibility. As I drove away tears rolling down my face I just kept asking God what more should I be doing?
That Christmas as I battled in prayer for several days wondering how to respond to this need the LORD birthed in me the vision for Life in Abundance. Not that we would be heroes to the poor but that we would empower the local churches to be salt and light to these communities. That the church could bring about sustainable change to these communities long after we were gone. Since then the LORD has continued to feed this vision and today the ministry of Life in Abundance has ongoing projects in Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Somaliland, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, DR Congo, Haiti and Jamaica. We also have over 150 full time staff working with over 250 local church partners!
Though there have been difficult and discouraging times the LORD continues to sustain us and He has blessed our obedience. Not for our sake but for the sake of the church. For the sake of the widow and the orphan and it is such a blessing to be yoked with Christ in this endeavor.
So as you remember to pray for LIA today I ask that you would pray that the Lord continues to guide this ministry and that we may continue to be obedient to His word. For we are just His instruments and we want to continue to submit to His will so that he may continue to do a mighty work.
