Randy’s October Update
Imagine:
Imagine sixty orphan children sleeping in a 20 x 20 ft. room, living on rice and bread, rarely being held, and never getting outside the walls of their compound. Imagine what would happen in our world if no one did anything about these things, if no one led the way to awareness, compassion and life-giving change.
Y- Generation Leaders Making A Loving Difference Around The World:
Charity is one of the leaders I’ve been meeting with this year. She recently returned from a three-month trip to one of the poorest, most dangerous countries in Africa (and the world). She has been part of a team of innovative young leaders who have created a non-profit organization aimed at helping connect people in the U.S. with specific projects/needs in an under-resourced country in Africa. So far they have been meeting the needs of orphans, improving medical training in hospitals (this country has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the world), and developing new strategies for giving micro-loans to impoverished entrepreneurs. The hope is ultimately to touch people on both sides of the world with God’s love.
Charity’s Experience In Africa:
“I believe I found my passion for being here in the work we are doing with the orphanage.
(Side-Note: “The Orphanage Project focuses on 300 children living at a government-run orphanage. Most of these kids are the result of “illegal pregnancies,” meaning their parents were not married, so the children were abandoned shortly after birth. The kids live in a small compound and some have never been outside the walls of the orphanage. Sixty children sleep in each 20 x 20 ft. room. Babies and toddlers are rarely bathed or held. A number of the youngest children are malnourished and look deformed. All of the kids in the orphanage are under 12 years old.
“We are the first volunteers to actually spend time with the children while helping meet their basic needs. After we took the kids out for a day trip for the first time in June, they came back saying it was the best day of their lives. The administration told us they have never seen the children so happy. The kids refer to us as aunts and uncles and they love to play and be held. The opportunities to impact the lives of these children are limitless and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for these kids.” – Scotty, a Legacy Shepherding mentoree, who now lives in Africa long-term.)
Back to Charity’s story: “We have continued to take 40 kids at a time out to a playground and play with them. For some of the kids, this has been the first time they have left the orphanage.
“I have learned lately that their living conditions are worse than I had thought. There is no running water into the buildings so the sanitary conditions remain pretty bad.
“I started asking questions about food and found out that their meager diet consists mainly of rice and bread, and sometimes eggs, beans and tea. I asked if they ever get any fruit and found out that they rarely do. Right then and there I hatched a plan to get them watermelons. The next day, we filled our station wagon with 30 huge watermelons and brought them to the orphanage.
“When we stepped out of the car, the kids flocked to us. Immediately, kids lined up to carry the watermelons, even though some of them were barely bigger than the melons. They could not have been more excited. I caught my friend’s eye when the kids started carrying the melons and we both just started laughing. It was maybe the cutest thing we had ever seen.
“One little boy came up to me and pressed his head against my side and looked up at me and smiled. I smiled back before he ran off to play. Needless to say, I was touched. I realized in that moment that we were actually bringing hope because we cared. We were some of the first people to prove that through our actions. As we were driving away, my friend said, ‘Imagine the reaction we would get if we brought 10 soccer balls next time!’
“Our team began talking about more ways we could meet the needs of these kids and realized that they get little or no meat and vegetables in their diet. They need clothes and bedding as well. We also want to hire some women to clean the place since the rooms are dirty and smell terrible. The kids have also been asking for shoes since many of them do not have any. I went to the market and found out that a pair of sandals costs $1.
“We began implementing our vision of connecting people back home to the needs and stories of people here. When people gave money for specific needs they felt passionate about, we met the needs directly, took pictures doing it, wrote updates with the pictures, and sent them to the people so they could be as much a part of the experience as possible. I saw the first part of our vision start to happen, which really got me excited.
“I am excited about the lasting impact that could happen by showing these kids love. I truly believe it is making a difference. Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to pray.” – Charity
Dreams of Jesus in a Muslim Land:
In one of Scotty’s recent updates, he wrote: “We are nearing the last week of the month of Ramadan. My Muslim friends fast from food and water from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day for the entire month! Dreams and visions are not uncommon during the month of Ramadan. The strange thing is that some African Muslims have mentioned having dreams about Jesus during this time. My team and I are praying that God reveals Himself to the people during this month.”
Will You Partner With Me?:
What would the world be like without strong, courageous, inspired leaders like Charity and Scotty, who are willing to “go” and be the hands of compassion and love for all of us? How can we help equip them for the calling God has for them now and in the future, here and around the world?
One of the many hopes of this ministry is to continue to pour into the next generation, to help young people live out their unique design and purpose so they may engage the world as only they can, in loving, healthy ways. Removing any barriers that would keep them from reaching their full redemptive potential in this world, as well as any barriers that would keep them from loving God and others the way they were designed to. When love is unleashed, radical transformation happens, first internally, then rippling out into the world.
While you consider your year-end giving, would you please consider investing in the next generation of leaders?
Will you partner financially with me in this ministry?
There is a need. I could use your help. Contributions are tax deductible!
Thank you so much for joining me on this amazing journey. Incredible things are happening because of you.
A note to my blog subscribers: It’s been very exciting to have people subscribe to my blog along the way. Some of you I haven’t even met. To those of you who have subscribed, I welcome and appreciate you. Thanks for following along. I can’t help but sense that God is doing something in your hearts through your interest. It may be easy to disregard a call to get involved via an internet blog. I would simply ask that you follow you heart and ask God if he would want you to partner financially and via prayer for this ministry. I think amazing things can happen in our hearts when we are faithful in the little things, like our finances, and when we get actively involved in ministries that inspire us and lead us toward our own purpose and calling. I hope God will bless you as he continues to draw you toward leaving a Legacy of Love in whatever way he is leading you. I trust you on your journey. Blessings and abundance to you.
For more information:
Check out the website at: legacyshepherding.org (Click Home above)
For more amazing stories of life-change check out other blog archives on the left
Email me at randy@legacyshepherding.org.
In His Love,
Randy
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