Karen’s Page

The World Around Us

At the beginning of August, we were privileged to travel to Africa for a holiday. For me it was a dream come true, being able to visit a place that I always wanted to explore. What an amazing country!  It‘s a place where you can see God’s creation at its best.  Even though you are driving amongst wild animals, they continue on with what they are doing, seemingly oblivious to the humans watching them.  As I observed what was going on around me, I could not understand how anyone could not believe in creation.  The patterns of life that are so obvious and the links that each animal has to one another can’t be denied.  How does a buffalo rid itself of insects on its skin?  It has an oxpecker to assist it.  If a hippo is living in the river, it will eat the algae and reeds.  When that goes through its system, then the Barbel catfish eats hippo’s poo in the river.  Then of course, the crocodile will eat the Barbel catfish.  There is a pattern of life to follow.  Each animal has a purpose for living and if one link in this chain of life is destroyed, then the whole web of life is ruined and the effects are far- reaching .

The animals can also be a great example for us on how we live our life. It was very easy to see parallels for how we should live in Christ. Watching a Pied Kingfisher one day, I marvelled at how still it sat on the branch of a tree.  At first I thought that it was frozen there, hoping that we would not notice it.  But then I realised that it hadn’t even noticed us and was focussing its attention on something more important. As I watched, I saw this bird suddenly dart into the water and come back with a little fish in its mouth.   This little bird had focussed its eyes on something that was important for its life- food ; and this little bird let nothing distract it from its goal of catching a meal for the day.  By keeping its eyes on his goal, he was able to achieve what he set out to do – survive. If he had become distracted by what was happening around him, this little bird would have missed his dinner and been hungry until he tried again.

 Likewise in the Christian faith, we are to be still in order to know God and what his purpose is for us.  In Psalm 16:8 it tells us that we will not be shaken from our faith if we keep our eyes always on the Lord.  Then our heart will rejoice and our bodies will rest secure. In Psalm 37:1-6, it tells us that we are to trust in the Lord and do good: dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

However whilst watching for his prey, this little kingfisher had to also be aware of the dangers lurking around him so that he would not become prey himself.  By being still, he was not only concentrating on his goal, he was also not drawing the attention of his enemy. 

In Psalm 37:7-9, it tells us to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.  Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret –it leads only to evil.  For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”  If we keep still before the Lord, then we have more chance of hearing what he desires for us and less chance of being tempted by our enemies.

Karen Kirby

COAT – Chinese Orphans Assistance Team

If you change the life of a child, you change the world

This is Si Yan. One day, some years ago, I was visiting the orphanage in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province.  I asked the Director if I could have another child. I had room for one more.

It was a very cold day, so Si Yan was dressed in many layers of clothing.  At least she was warm, but goodness knows when she had had clean clothes last.  The smell in each of the rooms was unbelievable.  Each cot had at least 4 children.  They were settling down for a three hour siesta so their carers could sleep. This little tot was singing a favourite nursery rhyme. I picked up the song and a few more little ones began to sing and clap their hands. They learned this from attending a school which I started for the orphans in that building. All the little black eyes were following me.  They knew I was there to take one of them home. 

All the eyes were begging. 

I was well known by these children as I was a frequent visitor and they knew I was boss of the school. I reached over and picked Si Yan up and hugged her to myself.  I promised the others that I would try to get them too, but they just had to wait…. And I was able to get most of them over the course of time as we opened more homes.

Si Yan kissed my cheek and I hugged her down two flights of stairs and into the lane leading to the road.  We had an official meal we had to attend, but smell and all, I was not going to leave her in the orphanage another minute if I could help it and besides, they have been known to change their minds. I carried her home to Eagles’ Wings 1 (the first apartment I bought with my husband’s inheritance). Joy was the resident foster mother there then, so joy took her, bathed her and dressed her more appropriately as we had good heating in that home.

Si Yan loved being in Eagles’ Wings.  I call my homes “Eagles’ Wings” because of Exodus 19:4b…. I raised you up on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

For awhile though, Si Yan had nightmares.  She would cry out in the middle of the night: “baba, ge ge, bu zuo!!!” (Daddy, big brother, don’t go).  She was subconsciously remembering being abandoned.  They would have abandoned her knowing she could not walk. 

 Cerebral Palsy is also considered bad luck and the person is thought to be stupid.  This happens because of ignorance.  However they did abandon Si Yan where she could be found, so they must have loved her.  If they hadn’t, they would have left her at the rubbish dump where death is pretty much a certainty although we do have some from rubbish dumps.

Part of our work is to teach people that people with a disability can often lead productive lives if they are well cared for and educated. So we provided therapy, education, the essentials of life… food, clothing and shelter.  But most importantly, she was loved. 

Margaret, our in Australia administrator was with me that day when I carried her home.  Margaret took her to her heart and formally sponsored her.  This gave them a great connection as Margaret visits often.  Si Yan’s self-esteem rose wonderfully and she began to thrive in every way.  She loved going to the new little school I opened not far from where Eagles’ Wings 1 was. She struggled going up and down the stairs to school as Eagles’ Wings 1 is on the sixth floor.  We moved her to Eagles’ Wings 6 which is on the ground floor. Every day she went back and forth to school in one of our three wheeled electric vehicles.  Eleven children can fit in the tray of this vehicle and the children love it.  They wave to the villagers as they pass and the villagers wave back in happy communion with the children.

See Si Yan now in the arms of her new American Daddy.  He is carrying her home.  She can walk a little with a walker.  The family are taking two children at once.  So, two children from Eagles’ Wings have left us on the same day to the same family.  Both of them are terrified at the moment.  They know their new mother and father love them, and they are happy about that.  But America is so far away and they have had a happy childhood in Eagles’ Wing. They are very brave and have turned their faces toward their futures and hand in hand, they are walking into their wonderful future that God has prepared for them both. In USA, they will have the best medical care possible, the best education possible and the best love from a mother and father who love them unconditionally even though they only met a few days ago. To God be all praise and glory for the thing He has done in the lives of these children and all who love them dearly. The family is a large and loving one…. So they will adjust when they realise it is just as good as Eagles’ Wings, except that now they have a real mother and a real father.

Linda Shum

President/International Director

Chinese Orphans’ Assistance Team Inc

Global Mission Partners News

 

A Woman with an Extraordinary God

One of the great things about being the Qld Mission Mobiliser for Global Mission Partners is all the wonderful ways I see God working through people.  They look like amazing people, but they are really just ordinary people that have made themselves available to God.

I went to Vanuatu a couple of months ago to facilitate an ACOM course.  I was helped lots  by a very good friend of mine, Judith Vusi.  I first met her when we were both teaching at Banmatmat Bible College in Vanuatu.  Since then, she’s been in a number of locations, but her heart is for training men and women to be leaders in Churches of Christ, Vanuatu.  She is now Principal of the Mobile Bible College, organising courses for those who want to be leaders in their churches.  Not only that, she is co-ordinating the ACOM course for those who want to train further.

If you were to ask her about herself, she would maybe smile & say, “There’s not much to tell.  I’m just an ordinary woman.”   I can tell you more: she is a loyal wife to her husband, an active member of her church, a shy person, a humble person, a woman who loves God, her family and her people.  She is one of God’s faithful ones doing jobs that are far from easy, but sticking to the task and encouraging others to do the same.

Thanks God for letting me be her friend.  Please God, provide for her needs and the needs of the students training in Vanuatu.

Jan Christensen

GMP Mission Mobiliser

UNOH – Anji Barker

from Klong Toey in Thailand

Signs of Hope

Today as I walked by the rubbish dump area I noticed a young man digging through the rubbish. His hands were filthy, but one of them was clinging tightly to the plastic bag of glue he periodically sniffed. Trying not to vomit from the smells that grew thicker into the air as he dug deeper, I thought of the kids we were just about to take swimming. A feeling of helplessness overwhelmed me as I realised that very soon many of the precious little ones I know and love would soon be in this same situation. Some of the 10 and 11 year old boys are already experimenting and making money for snacks by being drug mules. The current in our neighbourhood is so strong it seems inevitable that hundreds more lives will be reduced to scavenging in the bins in crazed states. As I passed this guy I noticed him pull something out from deep down in the smelliest broken bin - a wallet! He opened it and some 10 baht coins fell from the broken lining. In all the dirt and filth he had found something precious, something valuable. It was in that moment that I felt hope begin to rise in my heart - maybe, just maybe with God’s grace, we can too!

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