IJM’s Benefit Dinner in DC

Last Thursday I had the privilege of hosting a table at International Justice Mission’s benefit dinner in DC. I always look forward to going to anything that has to do with IJM because I always leave inspired and full of hope. Thursday was no different. We were able to hear from Jeff Blom (president of investigations.) He gave us a look into the life of the investigators in each country. These are courageous men and women who risk their lives for the work of justice. It gave me such hope to hear of changed lives.

As always, Gary Haugen was inspiring. He spoke on generosity and the force that it is. It cannot be contrived or manipulated but is a powerful force that can change many things. It’s very humbling to think of how many people’s lives and changed circumstances depend on other people’s generosity. How generous are we with our time, with our money, our passion, and our heart? Far too often, I am a stingy and selfish. Worst of all, is when I am generous with impure motives. God, cleanse my heart and make me pure.

We were able to see inside the life of a 9yr old girl who was a slave in a salt mine along with her family. Hour after hour, day after day, she pulled a rake in water covering her feet with open sores. They actually showed a picture of the poor child’s feet. Literally made me gasp. Imagine that in salt water. Imagine having no choice and knowing each painful step that you had to do it all day the next day, and the next, and the next. Having no hope of a different life. However, generosity stepped in thanks to IJM and donors! This child and her family are now free…running their own mine (with safe working conditions and just wages) employing 12 people. Lives changed from slavery and despair to life and hope---because of generosity.

I encourage everyone to check out International Justice Mission. They are a worthy ministry who I have seen nothing but integrity from. So much so, that Greg and I trained to become Justice Advocates with them so they we can help to spread the word about God’s heart for justice and the oppressed. Please email me with any questions about this ministry. If you’d like to see more on them, go to www.ijm.org . Be blessed and inspired. Be generous.

Here are some pics from the event.

Teachers Singing spiritual song in Zambia

A beautiful song with beautiful harmony. "I surrender, I surrender my soul"





For more information go to www.grassrootsheroes.org or email me at chrissy@grassrootsheroes.org

IJM Gift of Freedom 2009 from International Justice Mission on Vimeo.

Education! Education!

This is a little 'chant' that the kids do to get them excited about education. Listen close. You can hear little Lucy say she wants to be a lawyer and listen close to the girl in the pink shirt..she thanks you, the donor, for helping them.

Medley of Children's Songs in Zambia

This will most assuredly bring a smile to your face!

Zambia!

Greg and Frank arrived in Lusaka, Zambia a day late, but ready to work. It was really neat for him to be able to go back to the village.  The last time he was there was in Nov of 2007. It was good for him to be able to see the changes that the well, more teachers, and more supplies helped to bring.  It was also great for him to be able to see some of the kids again. The same kids that brought his heart to adoption.

They had a lot of meetings ( some hard - some easy). They built and strengthened relationships. The couple (Ron and Angela Chideme) that stay at Heroes’ Farm also work with YWAM and are a great asset to Grassroots Heroes.   Electricity was off more than it was on and Angela was determined for the guys to have tea.  Greg told her it was okay and not to worry.  She said that her mom taught her to always have tea for their guests and was outside in the rain over coals boiling water for tea!  They also had a birthday cake for Greg on his birthday.

The school is doing great and the plans are to add another class next year.  There are currently 5 teachers and  Mrs. Banda (the school mom/lunch lady).  The school will have to be moved due to land allocations from the government. (the village is a squatter’s village and the government is now allocating land to the villagers) We are currently receiving designated funds for this project.

The women’s group is excited and determined to get started again working in their cooperative.  They bake rolls and make beaded bracelets, door mats, hand bags . They are hardworking women.

View of the village from the ‘mountain’

The play pump at the well that was put.

Only my husband would ask one of the local village leaders to ‘ride the play pump’ with him.

                        I love the way the women carry their babies.

                                Houses in the village

The house at Heroes’ Farm.  It also contains a chicken run, orchard and many other possibilities.  The Chidemes hold discipleship training here and allow local pastors to use it as a retreat free of charge.                             Angela with Greg and Frank

Ron and Angela.  It was Sunday and they just came home from church.  Angela had preached that morning.

Lucky, who runs the chicken project, lives with his wife Jane and their family at the farm. Greg asked to take her picture and she ran to get her dog.  Greg thought it would be a real dog. It was this big stuffed one. It was what she had picked from a deceased loved one’s belongings and it was VERY important to her.

      Mrs. Banda—our school mom who made a choice to give up selling homemade alcohol without any prospect of earnings (this was what she used to feed her children).  She gave it up and trusted in the Lord to provide because it was the right thing to do.  Two families from our community heard her story and offered to pay her wages for helping at the school.  God moved on the hearts of people a continent away because of her faith.

                                     Huge millipede.

                                             Class

                                    Love that Hair !

                   School Teachers singing a song—what great voices!

              Greg and Selita…This little girl captured Greg’s

          heart when he first went to Zambia. She is full of life!

 

  Greg and Lucy..another precious child…She is the tiniest thing

              Serving peanut butter sandwiches to the kids. 

                  Protein is greatly needed in the village.

                     Traditional dancing done by the kids.

                     Mr. Sachika, the PTA chairman, with daughter     and grandchildren.

Zambia…beautiful people, beautiful children, beautiful smiles.

Would you like to give Hannah's Hope a Christmas Gift?

Hannah's Hope is in need of a few larger items.  If you would like to help with any of these purchases, send me an email at gcknight@verizon.net and I can steer you in the right direction!

TV (this will have to be purchased in Ethiopia and of course, will cost a bit more than tv's in the states)

DVD Player

Tape Players 


Heavy Duty Food Processor 


Please help us bless the children at Hannah's Hope and the wonderful people that help to love and take care of  the children.

 

Back from Zambia

Greg (and Frank) had a very productive trip in Zambia.  He should really write this post, but since it’s not on his high priority list, I will do it for him! :)

They missed the flight in Addis and had to stay the night.  While this wasn’t ideal because they lost a day in Zambia—Greg got to see the birthplace of Abenezer.  (He didn’t travel with me to pick him up).  To keep the posts short, I will focus on Ethiopia today and continue on with Zambia later.

Ethiopian Air put Greg and Frank up in a hotel.  Funny story is they were both wearing cowboy style hats.  The Ethiopian gal asked if they were from America. “yep” Then she asked if they were cowboys. “yep” they answered again…okay…we have cows on our land so I guess technically they can be called ‘cowboys’.  This gal also asked Greg if he had heard of the singer Don Williams (a country  singer from the 70’s /80s) Greg said yes and the 2 of them sang the song “It Must Be Love” together.  I would have loved to have seen that!

When Ab found out that he was in Addis, He became very excited and said “Tell dad to look for a teeny tiny house with 2 beds but only 1 bed is ours but you can’t see it from the road. That’s my house!”  Sadly, Greg couldn’t find it! :) 

Greg was hoping to meet with Pastor Henok (the pastor from Ab’s parent’s church-but he was outside the city)

The guys took a cab to the market and did some shopping before leaving.  Greg got Ab and Rachel new Ethiopian dress clothes.

Here are some of the pics from Ethiopia--

Beautiful country

View from the hotel. Notice the lean-to in the left corner, that is someone’s home.

Close up shot…Can you imagine?

More pics of the city

  

  

Beautiful country and people.  Our hearts are forever tied to it.

Greg has left the house! (for 10 days)

Greg has left for Zambia this evening…I tried to fit in his bag, but I still need to work on that diet plan!

I am slightly okay, ALOT envious of the time he will spend in Zambia.  The time that I spent there was so eye-opening, refreshing, and hard at the same time.  The part I loved the most was the ability of people who had experienced such sorrow, hardship, and heartache, to be able to break out in praise to God with song and dance and any given moment. It stretched me quite a lot and I miss it!

We were talking today about how the 1st century church’s experience is not much unlike the church experience that Christians who are suffering from persecution or Christians who are in a place that they have to rely on God for the basic needs of life.

I have heard the phrase recently that ‘we just need to let church happen’ like it did in the first century.  There is a call for a ‘rebirth’ of church as it is now so that we can experience like it was then.  I understand that desire.  I would LOVE to completely experience that.  I enjoy the refreshing breathtaking faith of the Zambians and Ethiopians I am in contact with.  I recently asked someone how I could pray for them.  This person has NOTHING in comparison to those of you who will read this.  This person lives in a shack the size of my bathroom.  Seriously.  The response ?  “Please pray for my spiritual life and that God will bless me so that I may help others”  Breathtaking.

My question is…..If we really want to experience church as they do or as the 1st century did…Are we willing to live the lives such as theirs?

Are we willing to make relationships a priority in our lives?  Not just what we do after we have done all of our chasing the American dream each day…but a priority?

Are we willing for God to be the center of our lives.  Not just something we do on Sunday.  Are we willing to walk with Him in each moment and for Him to be in the forefront of minds?

Are we willing to help others?  Of course, we are—but how about helping each other to the point of having to sacrifice?  Are we willing to give up our extras so that others may eat?  Are we willing to take in the orphan?  the down and out? Spend a Saturday helping a widow?   We generally like to help others, as long as it doesn’t mess up our lives or inconvenience us.

Are we willing to be sold out completely for God?  Are we willing to let God work unimaginably in our lives?  Do things we never thought we could do? Do things that we know can only be from Him?

Are you willing to die for your belief in Him?  They were and some did…and there are those who do today.

I am speaking to myself here as I wrestle with these choices as well. I want so much more of God but there is still quite a bit I need to let go of so I can grab on completely.

Off to Zambia

Greg (my hubby) and a friend are taking off for Zambia on Sunday evening. Flight leaves Monday morning--they are looking forward to that L-O-N-G flight. :) While there, they will be checking on some projects, doing some admin stuff but most importantly, building relationships.

I must admit that I wish that I was going with them. Amazing place and people.

Greg on his first trip to Zambia with Lucy...She was upset about not getting to go on a field trip that the group sponsored. This trip to Zambia was what inspired him to adopt.

We emailed and asked the village school (this is a squatter's village just outside of Lusaka) what they would like for the guys to try to bring. I am always humbled by their answers....reading books for the children (I'm a homeschooler...guess how many extras I have laying around!) crayons, pencils, teaching aids, Bibles, balls, science equipment (those of you who know me well, know that request touched my heart!)

The basic every day needs of a school that I have extras of floating around. I walked around my house today going "I don't need this, or this, or this" My kids walked in their room and began pulling out extras. Rachel said "I have lots of books that I don't need."

We were talking at dinner after Ab finished praying his very long heartfelt prayer. He told us "When I woke up when I first came home (he had fallen asleep and I carried him to my bed and slept with him) I woke up and thought I was in castle." I usually don't look at my home and see a castle.

It IS all in the eye of the beholder isn't? Tonight, I see a castle.