Monday through Friday she stares at me. She hangs on my wall and she just stares. I can't figure out quite what she's trying to say. Is she asking for help? Is she hurting? Is she angry at me for still being here? Is she in need? I don't know. The caption above her head simply reads, "Because I live in a country that is hostile to Christianity and devalues women, I am beaten, tortured and treated like common property. And I am not the only one." Then, if you look closer, in not so distinct letters, there are quotes that say, "If I deliver a Bible to my friend next door, she or I could be killed." "No law exists in my country to keep my husband from beating me or my daughter." "I do not have acess to education." "I can be murdered or tortured for talking to my male neighbor." "I am not a person, only property to be sold into marriage."
Daily I watch her. I look at her and I see the strength in her eyes. Perhaps the picture isn't really one of the woman who is beaten and abused but perhaps she is. The reality is that there are thousands of women who are and I don't have to know their names to know they live in circumstances I could never imagine.
Every day I have to ask myself - what are you doing to help this woman? What are you doing to bring her freedom? What are you doing to bring her protection? What are you doing to give her self-worth and hope? What are you doing to bring her love?
The truth is, as a Christian, she probably has a stronger faith than me. So what can I offer her? Education? Counsel? Support? I don't know. All I know is that daily the challenge of her stare confronts me and daily reiterates in me the need for laborers in the field.
What will you do with her stare? What will you do with the thousands, no millions of women and children who need you, need Christ, need so much more than we could ever imagine?
For more information on the persecuted church, check out www.odusa.org. Sign up to receive their weekly prayer alerts.
Grace and Justice,
Joy
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Email from Mattie Lou Brandon
Right after the Tsunami's hit I posted an email received from a missionary serving in Sri Lanka. I just received another one that was sent out to all of the employees here at The Salvation Army. So, I'm sorry if you've already read this but for those of you who haven't, it's worth it.
Joy
EMAIL FROM MATTIE LOU BRANDON - SRI LANKA
You will recall, Mattie Lou Brandon, a former employee of THQ here in Atlanta, now serving as Financial Director for the Sri Lanka Territory.
Lou has been interviewed on CNN News and has also been providing us with her account of the tsunami disaster, the miracle of God's protection of her life, and an update of what The Salvation Army is doing to bring relief and recovery in Sri Lanka.
Here is the latest communique from her:
Greetings from Sri Lanka,
I Thank God for His many Blessings.
I Thank Him for the opportunity to sit here at my computer, to write and say Thank You for your prayers and concerns.
Here in Colombo it is business as usual. People are busy living their lives and the quiet hush that once covered this city is nearly forgotten.
Yet ten miles from here many are suffering from the loss of loved ones and all that they possessed. Many had their loved ones taken from their arms, snatched from their view by something they loved, by something they found beautiful and at times calming. Many have worked so long on the sea for their worldly possessions, and in a few short minutes it was washed away, taken by something they trusted and depended upon for their living.
As I write to you so many are crying and grieving, wondering where to turn and having no place to go. There are those who don't have enough to eat, no less a place to lay their heads. Their lives are a cacophony of confusion. Their emotions low, but their hearts and minds are in an uproar and a commotion. Those who are afraid to close their eyes, for all they can do is relive the nightmare that has taken control of their lives. Others can't wait to sleep for it is the only peace that they have. Many desire death's sleep as a permanent solution to what has become a never ending emotional roller coaster. Some have opted to die instead of living, they have no hope to cling too.
So many stories being relived again and again. Some stories of how they were victors over death and how some lost the battle.
So many were lost before, not knowing Jesus, now wondering aimlessly, void of possessions and loved ones and having no will or hope to go on.
Please continue to pray for these souls. Please pray for not only their physical needs to be met, but also their spiritual needs to be met. I know God hears the prayers of the Saints. I am sure I am here today because of the prayers of the Saints. I am writing today, blessed by God, because so many have loved me enough to lift me up before His throne in prayer. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As the days pass, there are many new concerns. Here in Colombo many food items are becoming harder to purchase. With this island being surrounded on all sides by water, fish is a large part of every poor families diet. It is economical and in large supply. With the conditions being as they are, the few fishermen that did not lose their boats can't fish, because it is not safe to eat it, people won't buy it and rightfully so.
Poultry is becoming scarce and very expensive, as well as mutton. Staples such as sugar, salt and milk power have all been all purchased for the disaster victims. The store shelves are bare. The few shop owners that have food have gone from the humanitarian mode to the get rich quick mode. Many items are being flown in for the people in need, but ships are slow coming in to replenish the store shelves.
Petrol is hard to find. For the last couple of days the service stations around THQ have been out of Diesel and Petrol. On the outskirts of town there are stations that have Petrol, but the prices are very high, and you have to drive quite a way to purchase it.
As you can see there are many challenges here. But I. Thank God for the privilege to be here to experience each challenge, and I know that He will be by all of our sides to see us through. I Thank God for the many people who have come to the aid and rescue of the survivors. So many have opened their hearts and their checkbooks to help those in need.
Once again thank you for your prayers, concerns and well wishes during our Lords Birthday Celebration. It means so much to me out here in the field of souls.
May God's blessings cover you and your family. May his Grace, Mercy and Love surround you all forever and always,
Your sister in Christ
Lou Brandon
Joy
EMAIL FROM MATTIE LOU BRANDON - SRI LANKA
You will recall, Mattie Lou Brandon, a former employee of THQ here in Atlanta, now serving as Financial Director for the Sri Lanka Territory.
Lou has been interviewed on CNN News and has also been providing us with her account of the tsunami disaster, the miracle of God's protection of her life, and an update of what The Salvation Army is doing to bring relief and recovery in Sri Lanka.
Here is the latest communique from her:
Greetings from Sri Lanka,
I Thank God for His many Blessings.
I Thank Him for the opportunity to sit here at my computer, to write and say Thank You for your prayers and concerns.
Here in Colombo it is business as usual. People are busy living their lives and the quiet hush that once covered this city is nearly forgotten.
Yet ten miles from here many are suffering from the loss of loved ones and all that they possessed. Many had their loved ones taken from their arms, snatched from their view by something they loved, by something they found beautiful and at times calming. Many have worked so long on the sea for their worldly possessions, and in a few short minutes it was washed away, taken by something they trusted and depended upon for their living.
As I write to you so many are crying and grieving, wondering where to turn and having no place to go. There are those who don't have enough to eat, no less a place to lay their heads. Their lives are a cacophony of confusion. Their emotions low, but their hearts and minds are in an uproar and a commotion. Those who are afraid to close their eyes, for all they can do is relive the nightmare that has taken control of their lives. Others can't wait to sleep for it is the only peace that they have. Many desire death's sleep as a permanent solution to what has become a never ending emotional roller coaster. Some have opted to die instead of living, they have no hope to cling too.
So many stories being relived again and again. Some stories of how they were victors over death and how some lost the battle.
So many were lost before, not knowing Jesus, now wondering aimlessly, void of possessions and loved ones and having no will or hope to go on.
Please continue to pray for these souls. Please pray for not only their physical needs to be met, but also their spiritual needs to be met. I know God hears the prayers of the Saints. I am sure I am here today because of the prayers of the Saints. I am writing today, blessed by God, because so many have loved me enough to lift me up before His throne in prayer. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
As the days pass, there are many new concerns. Here in Colombo many food items are becoming harder to purchase. With this island being surrounded on all sides by water, fish is a large part of every poor families diet. It is economical and in large supply. With the conditions being as they are, the few fishermen that did not lose their boats can't fish, because it is not safe to eat it, people won't buy it and rightfully so.
Poultry is becoming scarce and very expensive, as well as mutton. Staples such as sugar, salt and milk power have all been all purchased for the disaster victims. The store shelves are bare. The few shop owners that have food have gone from the humanitarian mode to the get rich quick mode. Many items are being flown in for the people in need, but ships are slow coming in to replenish the store shelves.
Petrol is hard to find. For the last couple of days the service stations around THQ have been out of Diesel and Petrol. On the outskirts of town there are stations that have Petrol, but the prices are very high, and you have to drive quite a way to purchase it.
As you can see there are many challenges here. But I. Thank God for the privilege to be here to experience each challenge, and I know that He will be by all of our sides to see us through. I Thank God for the many people who have come to the aid and rescue of the survivors. So many have opened their hearts and their checkbooks to help those in need.
Once again thank you for your prayers, concerns and well wishes during our Lords Birthday Celebration. It means so much to me out here in the field of souls.
May God's blessings cover you and your family. May his Grace, Mercy and Love surround you all forever and always,
Your sister in Christ
Lou Brandon
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
The thoughts that ran through my head during Praise and Worship on Sunday morning.
Song: "Here I Am to Worship"
We were singing the second verse and I'm already having a hard time understanding how to worship God in a building far away from any kind of pain and suffering without offering any help after we just watched a video on the effects and the damage on the tsunami in Southeast Asia. Then the line comes, "King of All Days" and I stop. I can't sing anymore because my thoughts start to reel.
King of all days? King of that day? How do the pain and anguish match up with an Almighty King?
The congregation continues to sing, "I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross."
My thoughts: Heartache, absolute heartache. He was the king that day yet he had to watch his son die. Heartache might not have been the total cost but part of my sin cost my king heartache.
Then I return to that day, the day the Tsunami hit. He was king that day. What did that day cost him? Heartache. Absolute heartache as his children grieve, as they died, as their families still hope. What's our response? To grieve with them, to experience his heartache for them.
I can't sing the last part, "Here I am to Worship" because it's weak - at least it was that morning. Being here is easy and safe and costs me nothing. I'm not saying that they need me in Asia, I don't want to be that ignorant or proud. I don't want to think that as an American I can solve the world's problems but being here and raising my hands in a well-built chapel with a great sound system and well-dressed friends sitting beside me was hard to swallow that morning. I wished with all my being that morning that I wasn't Here to worship. Actually almost everyday of my life I wish that I was somewhere else in the world to worship. Maybe I should write a song about that. What would I call it? Ooo...ooo...I know.
"I'm leaving on a Jet Plane, I don't know when I'll be back again." Okay, so it wouldn't really be original but the theme still works. Get over it.
Grace and Justice,
Joy
Song: "Here I Am to Worship"
We were singing the second verse and I'm already having a hard time understanding how to worship God in a building far away from any kind of pain and suffering without offering any help after we just watched a video on the effects and the damage on the tsunami in Southeast Asia. Then the line comes, "King of All Days" and I stop. I can't sing anymore because my thoughts start to reel.
King of all days? King of that day? How do the pain and anguish match up with an Almighty King?
The congregation continues to sing, "I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross."
My thoughts: Heartache, absolute heartache. He was the king that day yet he had to watch his son die. Heartache might not have been the total cost but part of my sin cost my king heartache.
Then I return to that day, the day the Tsunami hit. He was king that day. What did that day cost him? Heartache. Absolute heartache as his children grieve, as they died, as their families still hope. What's our response? To grieve with them, to experience his heartache for them.
I can't sing the last part, "Here I am to Worship" because it's weak - at least it was that morning. Being here is easy and safe and costs me nothing. I'm not saying that they need me in Asia, I don't want to be that ignorant or proud. I don't want to think that as an American I can solve the world's problems but being here and raising my hands in a well-built chapel with a great sound system and well-dressed friends sitting beside me was hard to swallow that morning. I wished with all my being that morning that I wasn't Here to worship. Actually almost everyday of my life I wish that I was somewhere else in the world to worship. Maybe I should write a song about that. What would I call it? Ooo...ooo...I know.
"I'm leaving on a Jet Plane, I don't know when I'll be back again." Okay, so it wouldn't really be original but the theme still works. Get over it.
Grace and Justice,
Joy
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