Kenya Wish List

I'm heading to Kenya for two weeks on an outreach trip with Overlake Christian Church, flying out on August 10th and I've creaded an Amazon Wish List of items to take with that I would LOVE for you to donate and contribute to. I have a dear friend who, with her husband, have opened their hearts to the calling of helping all children in desperate need.  In the past 10 days they have taken in 4 abandoned children, aged 4 weeks to 3 years old, all severely malnourished and in desperate need of advocates for survival. In addition to needing assistance with medical bills, my friend Kim with Mattaw Children's Village has requested a few specific items that I've created in a Amazon Wish List. Check out the wish list and mail them directly to our house so that I can pack them in my suitcase! Alternatively, you can contribute through paypal with a tax deductible donation at UntilThen.org, the organization that Phil and I work with.. which I shamelessly plug all the time.  I'll leave you with these photo of Moses, that Kim shared on her instagram page. He is 6 weeks old and severely malnourished. I've never had seen something like this, but I know that I will meet this little soul in a couple of weeks (if he survives), and will live with absolute regret if I don't help him. I need your help to help others.  Every hopeful,  Dalene Photo taken from Kimberly Huffman/Mattaw Ministries Photo taken from Kimberly Huffman/Mattaw Ministries

Remembering to Rembember

This morning I went to church online through Overlake Christian Church (oh the life of a technologically saturated culture where I can watch church in my pajamas while drinking hot tea...); the message was on remembering what God has done. I contemplated the heartache of the past years, no true end in sight with the hope of healing in bits and pieces in His timing. With each brokenness there has been redemption, but I had to look back on each wound to see that there had in fact been healing.

In January of this year I was caught in a darkness of despair and failed at isolation. No matter how hard I fought to hide, God wouldn't allow me to. Friends and family surrounded me and bothered me to no avail, in ways I'm sure were Heavenly orchestrated as I wasn't honest in my pain with those around me. Within the darkness I was given a small window into my husband's daily pain in his depression. And now I remember what God has done for me, and for my husband.

God has brought treatment when nothing else worked. Though Phil has relapsed and is now under treatment again, it is working so far! Amen!

God brought healing to my wounds and strength to my weakness when I had to fight and advocate for my husband's life. Thank you, Lord.

God restored brokenness from my relationship with my dad in his death. In His wisdom He brought insight for my family in my dad's pain and illness, and there is peace now where there was anger. Praise the Lord.

Remembering to remember is crucial in moving forward and accepting the healing that our Lord breathes into our broken spirit. Though my heart aches and breaks, and is more fragile now than ever, I trust in my God, and am thankful for the pain for I now see the beauty in ashes.

Ending on a note of hope, I share a photo from Kenya. These beautiful children overlook a well to being dug in their village, the promise of clean water bringing hope for a better future. I'm going over in a few weeks, and cannot wait to see God's blessing and hope brought in such great purpose.

Ever hopeful,
Dalene