It's been one of those weeks. I wanted to get a blog update out last week but life got in the way. Then this week it was number one on my priority list but again. . . . life got in the way.
Here are a few of the 'divine' interruptions I had:
Despite the fact that I've just spent a good amount of time complaining I hate to complain because I am smart enough to realize that I have nothing to complain about in the bigger scheme of things. I see real suffering, hardship, and pain around me all the time. These minor inconveniences are just that - minor inconveniences.
As the Christmas holiday approaches the question I know I need to focus on is "What can I give Jesus for Christmas this year?" I have been blessed in so many ways: a supportive family, great friends, committed colleagues, a challenging ministry, a super support team, a great place to live and plenty of food when so many in East Africa are hungry and without shelter. I am blessed!!
My plan for advent is to find ways to give gifts to Jesus through creative giving to others. I'll let you know how that goes. How are you celebrating Advent? I'd love to hear from you.
If you're looking for ways to give creative gifts to Jesus this Christmas season read on for some exciting giving opportunities.
1. Community Health Empowerment training ~ What is CHE?
"It is a church initiated, wholistic development ministry that trains and equips local volunteers called CHEs (Community Health Educators) to share God's love in their communities by bringing physical and spiritual teaching to the homes around them."
After sending 6 South Sudanese and our new staff Adhanom to Uganda this fall for session one of CHE training we think many more will benefit if we can take the training to South Sudan in 2012. A gift of $500 will train one Community Health Educator by enabling us to fly a team of trainers to South Sudan and cover expenses for them and the trainees for 3 separate weeks of training. Click here to give a gift of education and empowerment.
2. Help the Nuban Episcopal Church of Sudan in Kakuma Refugee Camp reroof their church
I mentioned all the rain we're having in Kenya this fall and you can imagine what it's like in this church when it does rain. Would you like to assist these Sudanese refugees living in Kenya to reroof their church? Give a gift for the roof online today! Pray for the many people who cannot go 'home' this holiday season!
3. The gift of sight
The Tenwek Eye Team and Mango Ministries are gearing up for 2012. Our goal is to hold two cataract clinics next year. It breaks our heart when blind people get the message too late and miss receiving sight restoring surgery. The need is overwhelming!
A gift of $150 will enable a man or woman to receive sight restoring cataract surgery, including the opportunity to hear about Jesus who loves them.
4. Joy's ministry needs
I've been blessed with a generous support team. Thank you to all of you who make it possible for me to be a part of God's Kingdom building activity in South Sudan through your financial giving. Gifts to my ministry account will go towards my support needs and various other ministry activities.
If you'd like to give a gift through check here's how:
Send a check made out to World Gospel Mission to WGM, PO Box 948, Marion, IN 46952-0948. Indicate which project(s) your gift is for.
1. Community Health Empowerment (130-25790)
2. Church Development (Kakuma roof project, 130-21790)
3. Cataract Clinic (130-25791)
4. Joy Phillips support & many other ministry needs (130-07338)
Let's pray that Jesus will show us some very creative ways to show His love to others this Christmas season.
O come let us adore Him,
joy
Here are a few of the 'divine' interruptions I had:
- A painful farewell to a really good friend of 25 years who is retiring
- An unexpected opportunity to visit with a Nuban pastor learning more about the suffering in Sudan and hardships in Kakuma refugee camp
- I wrote an article for wgm's magazine The Call - look for it next spring
- I wrote a ton of emails, despite the internet's on and off again temperament
- Phone network bouncing all over the place creating many dropped calls
- Failure to reboot my computer, a little hum but a black screen!!!!!
- Thankful to be able to use an unused computer in a nearby office
- Frustrating not to have my documents, pictures, or email addresses on this computer
- What seems like constant power outages - it's not, it just seems that way
- Issues with our back-up generator
- Rain, rain and more rain
Unlike the uncertainty of my days and my sometimes whining attitide I have to smile when I remember how faithful God is. Again, he is here, even in the midst of a seemingly bad day.
Despite the fact that I've just spent a good amount of time complaining I hate to complain because I am smart enough to realize that I have nothing to complain about in the bigger scheme of things. I see real suffering, hardship, and pain around me all the time. These minor inconveniences are just that - minor inconveniences.
As the Christmas holiday approaches the question I know I need to focus on is "What can I give Jesus for Christmas this year?" I have been blessed in so many ways: a supportive family, great friends, committed colleagues, a challenging ministry, a super support team, a great place to live and plenty of food when so many in East Africa are hungry and without shelter. I am blessed!!
My plan for advent is to find ways to give gifts to Jesus through creative giving to others. I'll let you know how that goes. How are you celebrating Advent? I'd love to hear from you.
If you're looking for ways to give creative gifts to Jesus this Christmas season read on for some exciting giving opportunities.
1. Community Health Empowerment training ~ What is CHE?
"It is a church initiated, wholistic development ministry that trains and equips local volunteers called CHEs (Community Health Educators) to share God's love in their communities by bringing physical and spiritual teaching to the homes around them."
A group of CHE trainees learns how to build a safe stove
2. Help the Nuban Episcopal Church of Sudan in Kakuma Refugee Camp reroof their church
3. The gift of sight
The Tenwek Eye Team and Mango Ministries are gearing up for 2012. Our goal is to hold two cataract clinics next year. It breaks our heart when blind people get the message too late and miss receiving sight restoring surgery. The need is overwhelming!
A gift of $150 will enable a man or woman to receive sight restoring cataract surgery, including the opportunity to hear about Jesus who loves them.
4. Joy's ministry needs
I've been blessed with a generous support team. Thank you to all of you who make it possible for me to be a part of God's Kingdom building activity in South Sudan through your financial giving. Gifts to my ministry account will go towards my support needs and various other ministry activities.
If you'd like to give a gift through check here's how:
Send a check made out to World Gospel Mission to WGM, PO Box 948, Marion, IN 46952-0948. Indicate which project(s) your gift is for.
1. Community Health Empowerment (130-25790)
2. Church Development (Kakuma roof project, 130-21790)
3. Cataract Clinic (130-25791)
4. Joy Phillips support & many other ministry needs (130-07338)
Let's pray that Jesus will show us some very creative ways to show His love to others this Christmas season.
O come let us adore Him,
joy
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