The Young Family Farm

To prepare you for our first project–this morning I ran across this…and thought it was perfect to share…

It reminded me how we take the simplest things for granted…like when I see a cute pair of shoes at Target. I…put them in my cart. Some times I think twice, but most of the time I justify…a good deal…and I “need” them.

Shoes is one thing to think I “need”…

Every month, I have to deal with what most girls deal with…a monthly cycle. Sorry if that’s too personal to say–but it should come as no surprise to you. I take for granted that every month I stock up on the things I need…and I can get them in any size, weight and style I would like. And not only that–I complain about my cramps. I complain that I am a bit inconvenienced and I remind my husband that he is lucky to be a boy and he doesn’t have to endure such hardship each month.

SO…let me ask you this—what do you think the women and young girls of Korah do during this time? What will it be like for the hundreds of girls who are (praise GOD!) being sponsored to leave Korah this Fall and go to a boarding school? What will they do as they try to sit in class during this time? What do the woman and girls we support in Zambia do?

EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS?

Well, let me tell you what they do. They squat. They wait for their week to end. On their heavy days, some roll up newspapers and make their own tampons. Many get infections. The infections make their parents and husbands think they have STDs and they endure being left or abused. Some use a single piece of old clothing–and when it’s soiled–they rinse it and use it again…although it’s still wet—it’s some what clean.

Did you know that in Africa the dropout rate for for young girls in school is 40% when they have no sanitary supplies? BUT when they are provided them–it rises to just 8%?

What can we do about it?

This is the plan: To provide EVERY girl going to school from Korah and every girl and widow at Wiphan 10 washable pads each + 3 pairs of underwear.

There is no way to continue to provide disposable–so we will be providing pre-made overnight pad for approximately 300 women and girls…so that means we need 300 overnight pads and 2,700 regular ones. Each young lady will be able to wear 3 or so a day, wash them out and let them dry–while she will still have a handful more for the following day…and the next…and so on.

NOW…this is where YOU come in. Because each pre-made pad can run around $10—you do the math and that $30,000 in pads. OUCH. SO…we are asking YOU–to HELP US MAKE THEM!

For the month of September and October–we are asking women across the country to join us in making a difference. We have a pattern and instructions you can follow (Thanks for the wonderful Red Tent Project lending us theirs!). You can make it fun—and invite your Sunday school women, small group and friends to help! (I promise if you can’t sew—you can still be used…if you can use scissors—YOU might just be the one to keep the coffee brewin’ while the others sew OR you may be able to cut the patterns and get the fabric ready for the sewers to roll!)

We want to ask you to pray about heading up either a solo project on your own OR heading up a sewing party to help us get as many pads as possible. If we get enough for Korah and Wiphan—then we’ll be donating the rest to the women in the Korah area and Wiphan compounds. If you are interested in joining us in this project–please contact me through my contact page for details how you can get started. (Please be patient with my response time though–it may be later tonight before I can respond as we have a big day today for Isaac at the ENT).

If you don’t have time to sew OR time to host a party—but you would like to give financially toward the hefty overnight pads that we will be purchasing for each girl (the overnight pad for each girl will be the only thing purchased) OR you would like to donate toward someone who DOES want to sew but needs to be reimbursed for fabric costs–then feel free to scroll down to our “nets fundraiser” post and donated through Paypal there. In the notes section please write “sanitary pads”.

One thing at a time folks!!!

And tomorrow I’ll share more about how we are going to run our pad party. Hey…we call it what it is;). I’ll also post details about how to make the pads–what you will need–and how much you will need of each thing. I will also include deadlines, where they need to be shipped to when completed, etc. Today–please pray about helping in this project. Brainstrom throughout the day WHO you could ask to join you.

Finally—stay tuned for “Opernation Silent Night” which will not only provide the orphans at Wiphan a safe night’s sleep…but also spare their lives in more than one way!!! Stay tuned!!! Isn’t it so MUCH FUN to make a difference and be used for His glory?! And as always—feel free to share these projects with your world of friends and family!!! It’s going to be amazing to see the difference we make when we come together as the body of Christ and just roll with it!!!

Hope you all have a happy Thursday!!!

Have you ever prayed that?

Well, I’ll warn you. Don’t pray it unless you want your world to be rocked–your heart to be changed. Praying that prayer–will mean so many things…priorities change…what keeps you up at night changes…what you leave at the cross changes…and what brings you JOY changes. Because let me say this–TRUE JOY can only come AFTER being broken for the things that break our Creator’s heart and realizing only HE can fix it…crying at His feet to change it…and watching His faithfulness unfold as you step forward to be used to do something about it.

And then–comes humility. True humility. That He could do it ALL on His own–yet He allows us to be used…to see beauty from ashes…and then we are left realizing that we are actually the ones more changed. Wow.

Please bear with me today as I run through some of my thoughts…comparing my reality to someone else’s…that He, too, loves very, very much…

This morning I was reading and thinking about the 150 women who were raped in an African Congelese village while their children and husbands watched. Can you imagine? Because it happened. THIS summer. While many of us kicked back and watched the fireworks…went swimming in our neighborhood pools…planned our vacations…THIS was happening on the other side of the world. IT IS REAL.

Moments later, I look over and see my pig-tailed almost 5 year old daughter skipping around the kitchen island killing time before school starts. This morning our biggest problem is she misplaced her school folder which is supposed to remain in her school bag for parent/teacher coorespondance (Special note: we found it that night in the mini-van stuffed under a seat). Yes, my name is Andrea Young–and THIS is a perfect example of what a problem is in “MY” world. I live in safety…plushville compared to my Zambian sisters who sleep on hard, dirty floors. We live in what we jokingly refer to as “fairy land” at our house…and we only think we have problems.

Later…more quite comes my way (you know this is rare in our home…and the only time I can think or write…hence you often see my publications at 1am;) The older two kids off are off to school…a private Christian school because…well, it’s the best thing for them…or so that is our current opinion at the moment…and if we want something in our culture–we always make a way for it. So now, there is quiet. I check my email and I read an article a friend sent me about women in South Africa being abused and shunned by their husband because the men think the infections their wives are enduring are from unfaithfuless. They aren’t. They are pure, faithful women. Their infections are caused from not having feminine supplies, and they have been using newspaper as home-made tampons. On lighter days, they use the only rag they own. So their lack of something we take for granted and even complain about…and have medication to ease our cramps…is causing them not only infections, but shame and abuse in their homes. Their hearts feel hopeless…really–it is not their fault. They didn’t chose to be born in poverty. It’s just the cards they were dealt. Right?

I mean…really—we don’t get to PICK where we are born. That’s up to God. And so it’s His problem…right? They just got dealt different cards…really–it’s not our problem…I mean…we have enough to think about and as long as we 1) don’t think about it OR 2) don’t challenge ourselves to pray “break our hearts Lord for what breaks Yours” and to later be used as a vessel for change. That might make me uncomfortable. Or weird. Or it might make me make other people uncomfortable…

Later in the day…I looked over and see my 12 month old giggling at me—and I remember his story. We had just gotten back from another weekly visit to the pediatrician. We’ll go tomorrow to yet another lab for more tests trying to get to the bottom of his raspy breathing…our guess is a protein allergy this time. Then on Thursday to the ENT to for once and for all be done with the ear infections that keep him up at night. And Friday to the physical therapist because his malnourishment wiped away his muscles and now we are rebuilding them. He is my son. He has a mom. He has someone to fight for him. Someone to protect him. Someone to advocate for him and find relief for even the smallest cough. Today, he is feeling so much better than he was 8 weeks ago. He is now able to sit on his own…roll over…he can even sit up from laying down. He can officially put pressure on his legs…and every day he gets stronger. And there are millions…MILLIONS…who will never get better…simply because there is no one there to fight for them.

Oh…but not mine. He is going to run circles around his siblings. He is going to walk and run. And I will listen carefully all his days for the slightest wheeze…and sure enough–in 24 hours I’ll have him checked out…because I’m his mom–and he is my son…he IS my responsibility. I am learning a new SENSE of responsibility–that only many of you adopted mommies can identify with. But I’ll try to explain…because it’s just amazing. I feel a DEEPER sense of responsibility to my son brought to me through the miracle of adoption. He is my son. As my friend Amy said it–not by papers or even love–but by God. BUT there is also a deep sense to me that He BELONGS TO God…and there is another mom I made a vow too…and I act quickly on my son’s behalf. I am more protective…more aware of every expression–and what he might be feeling…and my heart struggles when I see someone else hold him…even when it’s his daddy. My son is actually helping me realize that the three older siblings ALSO belong to God. But for some reason…and I must confess…in a way I thought they belonged more to me. I don’t think I REALIZED I thought that–and had we not adopted I think I would have never been awakened to it…but now I see that none of these are REALLY “mine” but all His…YET they are my responsibility. He has given us charge over them. And…we will be held accountable for their upbringing and care.

SO…

What about the orphans? What about the widows? What about the ones that will NEVER be adopted? Who will never be fought for? Who will protect them? Look out for them? Visit them? Really—is it our responsibility to do something? I mean–those were their cards. And these were mine. And I got fairy land.

I think about our 450 orphans in Zambia who are served through Wiphan…and the 150 ladies…living in a country that is in the top 5 countries with the highest mortality rate. Zambia often flies under the radar as it’s closed to adoption (or rather–it’s not common and too difficult). YET–more die in Zambia every day from malaria, starvation…than 190 other countries in the world. That is sad isn’t it…but–is it our responsibility to do something?

Really–it’s not okay. It’s not okay for me to live my life how ever *I* want. It’s just not. And let me just say–I can justify just about anything here. A big house…I can use if for God’s glory. Yadda, yadda, yadda…really the list can go on. Really, it’s not okay for me to live for myself–however I choose. They may have been dealt one set of cards—and me another…but this game of life isn’t for me to just sit here and hold my cards tightly in my hand. Part of my flesh wants to–because I am human. Part of my flesh will try to–because letting go and living differently is hard. But I truly believe we got dealt different cards so we could BOTH be changed. As a believer—it’s just not okay for me to live how I want to live…to not take the gospel at it’s word—because really—it’s not up for interpretation. And letting cards go–it’s not supposed to be “extra”. Or optional. It’s how living the gospel is played…and to be honest—I’m really not that good at it…yet—but I really want to try.

The world tells me, “Well, I think you need BALANCE.” And I really am not sure how you find “balance”…and I’m pretty sure balance isn’t part of the gospel…although I’d sure like it to be because I struggle with the flesh. If you could be a fly on our wall, this is what Richard and I talk about EVERY night. We rack our brains…we struggle and wrestle…we confess our selfish desires and although some times we feel crazy with being consumed with these thoughts. Richard looked at me with this funny wonder on his face last night and said, “Okay. Maybe we AREN’T the crazy ones…this is how we are supposed to do life. You know–the ones not wanting to live for the gospel…now that is crazy.”

So…where does that leave us? How do you REALLY hold your hands out and say, “Take my life and let it be…all for Yours and for Your glory”? What does that really look like?

I think it begins as we get to KNOW what is REALLY happening. As we find out more and allow our hearts to be changed…and moved by it. As we begin to say, “This is NOT okay…” and in the process our hearts begin to break for what breaks His. And instead of becoming overwhelmed—we just take ONE STEP forward. We say “use me Lord”…I want to do SOMETHING…and after that…”use me again Lord”…I want to do something else.

With Wiphan we often like to spread out fundraisers so we don’t “overwhelm” people. In our churches–we are careful to “overask” for help…as to not scare people away. Even in my own church we are trying to start an orphan ministry, and those of us trying to start it are praying that our pastor will come on board…as if God can’t do wonders in and through our church body even if our vision will not be shared from the pulpit. I beginning to think there must be hundreds of people out there whose hearts are screaming, “I WANT TO HELP! I JUST DON’T KNOW WHERE!” Many of us are holding cards of blessing. And we need to get to a place as His people where those of us holding cards in a place of blessing…are READY, WILLING and EXCITED to be overwhelmed with doing many wonders in His name. What if we ALL jumped at opportunities to be used for His glory? To help others? To be change and then be changed in the process? And to finally—in the end…as we are humbled at being used and see that we are the ones who are really changed…and experience TRUE JOY.

In the next few days and weeks, I’ll be sharing countless ways for you to used RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE…in BIG, AMAZING ways. If you are one of those screaming, “The Lord has called me to do more! I want to help! Show me what needs to be done…and I will use the gifts and the resources God has given me to do what He leads me to do!” This next month–there are 2 projects…one in which we need hands and time and service for…and the other we need donations for. Both are life-changing…and I would love for you to join me. And after that—I’d love to walk beside many of you in service, in sacrifice and in JOY. Again. And again. And again.

Break our hearts Lord…for what breaks yours.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20

We have ENOUGH! MORE than enough!!! In just a few HOURS–God has used YOU…HIS PEOPLE…to provide! We needed $530 for the nets + a bit more to pay for the driver and gas…and $1,700 has been raised!

The $1,100.00+ what we needed for nets that God so abundantly and AMAZINGLY poured in through HIS PEOPLE…will go toward the teenage girls of Korah to support them so they will stay in school. We will be purchasing 10 pads for each girl so she can wash out the used ones every other day during that not so fun week of the month. (I know this doesn’t sound fun–but NOT having anything to wear at all…is really not fun!) Statistics in these areas show that attendance for girls drops by 40% when they don’t have these—and it’s just 8% when they do. AND…I don’t blame them!!! We will be purchasing as many pre-made as we can to get these to them asap—and what we do not have money for…we may be asking some of you to help make them (similar to the Red Tent Project) OR we may just need a bit more to fund the premade. Give us a few days and we’ll let you know. We are also cooresponding with Sumer to see if they have ANYTHING else they need (blankets, etc).

NOW…a word to our donors. YOU ALL ARE AWESOME, CRAZY and AMAZING!!! I am blown away!!! Thank you for allowing God to use you in a mighty way in just a few hours today!!! These verses are for you guys…

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” Psalm 18:2-6

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.” 1 Timothy 6:12

“Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it.” Ezra 10:4

For those of you who WANTED to give but didn’t read this in time…NO worries. In a few days we’ll have an update on the pads situation for the girls and how YOU can help!