This is A Message for Prayer Warriors!

Please know that at this hour Bethany and I are locking ourselves in our room today. We will pray. If you happen to read this in the next hours, please join us! This is warfare! I am telling you, all the prayers you've been praying have been bringing the power of Christ in action here, and the enemy is fuming! Things just got intense. I thought they were before, but boy is it cooking in here now! It's the things you never knew you'd know! I will tell you about it later. Prayer points:

spirit of deception is to leave, no return!
peace is to reign in this place!
silence the tounges of evil.
The enemey has no place here!
Pray against the enemy who wants to use the house parents to turn the kids against us(but really against Jesus Christ).
Pray that the Bible Study will continue, it barely went on today with only 2 or 3 children and even they were not fully attentive.
Peace between housemothers and B and I.

Pray the psalms. Pray salvation for mothers. Pray salvation for children.

This is what B and I will be doing and if you will join us it is with thankful hearts that we rejoice with you!
It is really hard here today. I have said that before, but please know that I am really serious in it this time.

The Lord Jesus Christ is Victor! I love you all!

These are the days....

Hello dear ones! I just thought I'd say hello. Bethany and I are finnishing up our day here by spending it at the farm. It has been a lovely afternoon. We went on a really nice, really bumpy game drive and saw a few fun things like giraffes and cute little birds-like the one on Lion King that sings. Anyway, the internet is fast here and it's a set rate.

Today is Bethany's Birthday and has been filled with lots of little hidden treasure suprises. I am so glad. I love it when friends have good Birthdays! One of the little guys at the Haven turned 6 today as well. We made him a cake out of all the rice crispie treat packs DeAnna sent me with! I don't think they've ever had that sort of treat before, very fun!

The Bible study was great yesterday. We talked about Babble and then talked about how the blood of Christ has covered so that now all who believed are one in Him! The older children who can read took turns reading from Genesis. It was so great! Then we sang nice songs together that they taught to Bethany and I.

Ohp! It's dinner time. Gotta run! love you all!

One prayer to ask: just that I'd remember always that this thing I am doing here with the Lord is as simple as friendship. Sometimes it's so busy, but to remember that it doesn't matter how much gets done at the end of the day. He doesn't really need that I do anything because he can really do it all himself! Thanks!

Just a Quick One

Hello all! Thanks for all the continued prayers. Just a quick note to tell you how encouraging God is! He is always sweeping through with rays of light to brighten the difficult places. I could list more prayer requests, but I will instead give all praise to the One who already knows, and has an answer to each thing. Oh, but I do have one prayer: PLEASE PRAY THAT THE BIBLE STUDY WILL CONTINUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The kids love it, they are benefiting and changing...but these Germans are stubborn and complain every time that we should put studies first. I understand that homework is important. I always did my homework after supper. But this Bible study is not forever and if a child doesn't have the hope of Christ in them, what will even motivate them to do well in school? If they haven't found worth, then how will they believe they can even make it? They laughed in my face today when I explained the importance of God, but really they laughed in God's face and it hurt! I was near tears. But you know what? We just have to pray for them. They grew up in Berlin and through the war! Yikes! You know it must've been hardening to be there. And now they think God is worthless. They are very harsh and my heart hurts, but mostly for them. Where will they be when they die? But I pray that by our actions they see that God is love and loves them and is the reason they live and move and have their being! Oops, so much for this being short!
But anyway, they boast of donations they and other Germans have given and demand that studies go first, not a bible study. I am afraid that Anja's step-father will give in because he doesn't want to lose their donations. But no! He mustn't! And I don't think he will but still I get nervous. Again it always comes back to the love God has for these kids and He wants them to know it! And understand it and believe it!

Anyway, I just wanted to tell Jenni W. something: I resent the email. Maybe check your junk box because it is the right adress and it even gets put into my sent items box after I send it. So I donno! And thanks!!!!! I got the box! The card for me was a treasure! The balls will be great! And so far the dvd's are being stinkers because they say US is region 1 and South Africa is region 2 and won't play. But I am going to try on one of the ancient lab tops that were donated from the us and see. I really want to see the dvd's!
Okay I love you all! peace, amanda

My Strength is in the Lord!

1 Peter 2:23 says that Jesus left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.

Here I am again! What a weekend it has been! I am worn out! Bethany and I retreated this afternoon to the little restaurant near town where we could leave our cares behind. I can see why it was so important for Jesus to go outside the walls to pray.

I’ve been looking at these kids with a heart of adoration. How precious to catch sight of Grace all on her own, “playing house” with a baby doll when no one was watching. To see how eager Alexander, Gustav, Immanuel, (and even Absolom-though he’d never admit it) were to be the chosen few to collect sand at the dry river bed for the green house. And to see little Jamo and other younger ones carry their small loads of sand that were heavy in their arms as they filled little bags row by row. I watch Immanuel who is always helping the younger ones to get their clothes on or to do their craft, and I wonder that his grandmother beats him and think how she has no idea what a good boy she is missing out on! Last night I saw tough boy Jefta as the little boy that he’s never been able to be. We took him to the hospital and his forehead was wrinkled as he looked up, wide-eyed at the nurse, and each time I’d smile at him or tell him a joke he’d smile bashfully and ease up. I still have 3 weeks with them, but already the thought has crossed my mind, how will I leave them? I wonder how often this thought was in front of Jesus all of his short days spent with his friends on earth.

At the same time, it is not easy to be here with my additional role as manager. I never thought before now of an orphanage having a manager. It is a BIG job! Really, I am so glad to have all this experience and it does not have me rethinking the dream God placed in me by any means. Sometimes the problems just seem too big. For example, today the housemothers let out all their problems with the Haven, and how it’s run, onto me. They said they’ve been angry with me even though they know I am only doing what Anja has instructed. Those who know me know that I wanted to cry in this moment, but the Lord is my strength, whom shall I fear? He held me up. And when the meeting was over, Grace saw right inside me, as kids are soo good at. She said, “Amanda. Kiss me,” in an urgent voice. She reached up and wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek. I am telling you, the kisses of children are one of the biggest blessings a girl could ask for! It makes the job worth it! Again I think of Jesus during his time on earth. No wonder he was so set on allowing the little ones to come to him. Everyone else took, took, took, and here the little darlings sat in his lap. Maybe hugged and kissed him or played with his beard or the tie on his robe. I donno. But their presence is my sure reminder that no problem is too big for God because he loves them even more than I do!

And my dear brothers and sisters, I hesitate to write you my prayer requests. I feel the burden and the Holy Spirit constantly reminds me that the heavy one is his, mine is only the light one. But I am so grateful every time you pray. It truly makes a difference. This past week has been full of upheaval and changes and sometimes so stressful. Bethany put to words my exact thoughts (we’ve been finding ourselves doing that alot lately-fun!), she said it’s like tilling the ground for the planting. So I write you more that you might pray and give you also shared answers to prayer and reasons to praise God!

Praises:

The meeting with the Germans, Rose and Margo, was well received.

Progress continues with the Green House.

The older girls wanted to worship Jesus in song so they asked B and I to form a group and we named it Sarah’s Daughters. It was so fun and we sang in front of the congregation at church this morning. I was able to teach the girls from 1 Peter 3 about what makes a woman beautiful and what lasting beauty is. It is neat to watch the instant worth restored when Jesus is the source!

The kids love Bible reading time!

There is almost always at least one child among us who is singing a song of praise to God!

Requests:

For Unity and Peace at the Haven, concerning housemothers as well as fighting among children.

Rose and Margo really need Jesus!

Jefta. He has been having all these strange illnesses like sores on his head and face, voice lost and chest pain. We ran into a woman last week who knew Jefta and knew he had been on anti-HIV medications. In other words, Jefta has AIDS! We will know for sure sure tomorrow when he is tested. This breaks my heart!

Also, many kids at the Haven are breaking out in these fungus-like sores all over their heads. It’s like an epidemic among us! Please pray that God would heal them and give me wisdom on how to get it under control. We go through one tube of medicine in two days and it is expensive.

Desiree is sick again! I think she has asthma, but the doctors say allergies and a cold!

Aussie from the green house promised us seeds, and that he’d come give us another lesson on getting started as well as fix a broken tube. He hasn’t come yet! Pray he comes!

ABOVE ALL PRAY FOR SALVATION FOR ALL CHILDREN. That we’d lay out the gospel crystal clear and that God would give them understanding. The Holy Spirit will do the best translating of all!

“I will not leave you orphans-I will come to you.” –Jesus John 14:15

p.s. Feel free to write me longer notes. I just cut and paste and read it when I am off line. If anyone can tell me some funny things, that’d be great. I love to laugh and haven’t had enough of it in my life! (MaryBeth, Jenni Witte, Yvonne, and Tricia-you are the ones who do it best! But any others I’d love to hear from)

He is Sure a Workin'!

The day is yours, and yours also the night... Psalm 74:16

He is before all things, and in Him all thing’s hold together. Colossians 1:17

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, There is so much to praise God for at every moment. Bethany and I have seen God answer prayers instantly as they are brought before God. It was another difficult day and at the same time each day is so exciting to witness that part of God’s heart that loves orphans. He is kind to his children, ferocious to his enemy. He is gentle in his working, while working deep and intense.

I am wondering if you ever get tired of hearing me say, “please pray.” It is just so amazing to know that God comes in power when we call on his name.

Here are reasons I am praising God:

~The kids are responding with great interest to the Bible Study. I love to heart them “ooh” and go “woah” to learn these new things about God.

~Jefta(11 yrs.old) has learned nearly every letter and sound of the alphabet by name and I am sure will be reading before we know it!

~Anja has a baby boy as of today!

~More progress has been made on the green house! By next week we should be planting!

Here are some ways to pray:

~PLEASE pray for the unity between Bethany and I and the housemothers with the new volunteers. These two women have come with an agenda. And it has already started to get messy! They have made lists of all things done “wrong” and want to change it all immediately! I don’t know how many of you have gone to other countries, but I always thought it was common sense to be culturally sensitive. Yikes! The house mothers seem to be really close to being, if not already, offended. It makes my roles as manager strained as well. Please pray for us, tomorrow we will have a meeting about it.

~Absalom (17yrs) has gotten in trouble with the police for street fighting. We aren’t sure if he will be able to continue living at the Haven. He is making a lot of wrong choices. Both of the older boys are getting into a lot of trouble.

~Regina has been a bit difficult. She likes to test me and the others. I do not give into it and she learned that about me right away, but she has become very creative in her ways of doing so. At times she is very playful and sweet, but in the same moment also causing trouble and hurting the other children whether with words of physically.

~Please keep praying for the green house stuff. It would be a great feat to have everything planted by the end of next week! It’s the goal!

Thank you all! Knowing your prayers hold me up with such love encourages me daily!

I know You're All Praying!

(disclaimer: These are getting long. You do not have to read it really. It's for me just as much b/c when I write it out I begin to see for myself what I hadn't seen before and God uses it to remind me of His promises and truths. So thanks for bearing with me!)

Hello loves! I know you are all praying and I am quite a grateful girl for it! Things are pretty tough here this first week so please be in additional prayer if you can! I cannot say things are going badly, no they are going really well. God is doing major workings in the children, but it's not easy work. He is the Good Father who is set on seeing to it that they grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The enemy doesn't like it, but neither does their own flesh (and mine too, man is this ever a big teaching stick from the Lord!). When we prayed the other night about our return, Anja had said that she saw what was about to happen at the Haven as parallel to the green house-I see it too! It's like this hot house where all this stuff is going on deep down inside and after much hard work, great fruits and vegis are sure to sprout forth!

So here's some ideas in prayer:

-The Bible studies are back in session and it's been fun b/c we have the older kids TRANSLATING. I pray through the whole way too because I know it can be difficult when it's new material, new concepts and words to translate. But we know the Holy Spirit will translate as well!

-For my PATIENCE. You might have thought me to be a patient person, but this takes it to a whole new level. Please pray for patience in disciplining the kids, that I would persevere when it seems worthless. They really do respond if it's just seen all the way through.
Specifically:
Linus- To learn self-control. He is stubborn. I know you'd like me to say "strong-willed," and that too, but he really fights the fight! He is precious and a darling, but when he gets himself into trouble there is lots of it!
Imwe-He is very sensitive and at the moment he only knows to handle his problems by hitting the other and then crying uncontrollably at the hit he most usually receives in return. This is one where I need lots of insight. To know when he's trully hurt and when he is using a tool to get out of trouble.
Of the older, Jefta and Justine struggle to keep their tempers level with both words and actions.
They are both sensitive and respond well, but I would like to see them in control of their actions. Lastnight Justine said to me over and over," I cannot take a sorry. I will not take a sorry. They are treating me like a dog, kicking my foot because it is hurt." I told her it was wrong that the children kicked her and I was sorry it had happened. Then I was also able to tell her about all the torture Jesus went through and how he never fought back. And then I reminded her that when we do wrong to the Lord, He always takes our sorries. What if he didn't? Where would we be?

-Please pray for WISDOM. That we'd know how to respond to each child and each situation.


-Please pray for PERSEVERANCE. I went to bed worn out and I woke worn out. Not physically, but in my heart to think of the day that spins ahead. I know it's going to calm down after the week is through.

-Please pray for THE NEW VOLUNTEERS. They are adjusting quite well and lovely to have around. They will be here until end of November! Please pray as the first weeks and be a time of testing between new comers and the kids.

-Please pray for GIDEON (house father). Please pray that Gideon would commit himself to God and to the Haven. He gets payed to be here if he'll just come, but he does all these other jobs ahead of this one. Not only is the Green House suffering because of it, but when he is here he is in a place where his walk with God grows. I see it all the time. He watches what I do with the kids and learns from it. He is not ashamed to sit during story time and soak up these great truths about God, and when I am disciplining a child watches what I do and does just the same. He wants to follow God, but has never had the descipleship to do so. He has a teachable heart and it is precious in the sight of God.


OkeyDokey here goes a new day! I love you and miss you all!


p.s. Jenni, did you get the email I sent to your other email address? And did you send the package air or ground mail? I think ground might take ages. Bethany already got a package that was sent to her after you sent mine. I will check again today though.

Lord! You've Given more than I knew you would!

having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” 1 Peter 1:23

My sweet sweet family-friends, I love you all so very much! Thank you for thinking of me and for sending all the loving Birthday greetings!

Now about that latest adventure: Bethany drove us through the desert on Friday, all the way to the sea! We spent the afternoon with Anja and some of her fam, walking around this little German town in Africa. So cute! We stopped in at a cozy little shop and enjoyed hot cocoas with whipped cream to warm us from the wet breeze of the Atlantic. Then, just before going to Walvis Bay for sushi and calamari steak, we caught sight of the sunset on the sea! Amazing right? And that was not even my Birthday yet! But you know....I consider it to have been my Birthday weekend. Because who wants a Birthday to just last a day?!

Now, Let me just tell you how good a King I live for! Let me just tell you how over the top the gifts of the Father of Lights really are! He is the loving Husband who woke me on Saturday morning to tell me he was soo excited for this new day with me! He is the Lover of my soul who warmed my heart while I lay in the little bed of my tiny little (and oh so frigidly cold) bungalow by the sea.

First, I opened my one treasured gift from my dear friend Lauren. LAUREN! I enjoyed a hot rooibos in the glass tea holder from China-you are my thoughtful friend whom I love immensely. Thank you! Second, Bethany and I found a little bakery to shut out the chill of the misty morning before heading to breakfast in a little oasis in the desert. Anja had another baby shower there and we enjoyed green grass and palm trees surrounding the dessert.

After we finished, Anja’s sis-in-law, Esther, took Bethany and I on a private airplane ride to Cape Cross! We ate lunch, drank coffees and appletizers, and walked along the beach collecting seashells. The view from the plane was astounding!- Never ending sea to one side and never ending sand dunes to the other. It was so easy from way up there to imagine the God who formed me...to believe that He had thought of me before all of the earth to shape. I looked down to see where the waves met the earth, and houses were not so far inland. And I recognized the power of God who says to the waves, “this far. You may come this far, and no further.” In the silence of His majesty He speaks to me in His way...

We got back to Swakopmund by evening and picked up a tasty tasty pizza and went to Anja’s families holiday flat and watched old Audrey Hepburn movies. Just then I had that small hidden ache of homesickness, missing all of you! But I was cheered up when Anja’s young sister in law brought me her teddy bear and a piece of chocolate for the Birthday girl. And Anja’s mom made homemade chocolate sauce that we ate poured over vanilla ice cream (that tasted like marshmallows). It was so nice being together in that little room and feeling a bit of normalcy as I know it. You know?

Sunday was brilliant as well. We visited a little church full of life and love. Did a little bit of shopping and then found the mighty sand dunes. Boy was it sandy! Really, the wind was blowing that sand everywhere! But it was sure fun to run up and down those things! Where else does desert meet ocean? When we went back to the flat we had a really sweet time of prayer for our next month and for the kids and house parents. So that was our trip as told from the shell of a nut by the sea.

It feels like coming home to come back to the Haven. The kids are all back, except for two(please pray for their safe arrival.) Two ladies in their late 60’s arrived from Germany today. They are so full of life and really great from what I can tell so far. I think they are just what I hoped for. Already so full of wisdom. Rosie said to me: So you’re 25 and no husband. When you get back you need to find a good working man. Not just a good looking man, but a working one. Looks fade, but the mind and heart will be lasting. The vase can be so lovely, but inside all cracked and grimy.....and then she says, I guess I did learn something from my mom!” But really, I think they are going to be great for the kids. They are here until mid-November!

Wow, this is the longest update I’ve given yet. Starting tomorrow I will be busy as ever with all the catching up to do after a weekend away and all the kids back now!

P.S. I cannot believe one thing: my own two sisters do not know when I get back to KC! Welp girlies, I am back on October 10^th. So, I hope you are both there when I get there, that would make me verrrry happy indeed!