30 days

We have 30 days until we leave for Africa.  I believe we are negotiating now on a housing situation in Uganda.  We are packing up a 4 bedroom home.  Our son is officially awaiting deployment into the Air Force.  Our oldest daughter moved into her new apartment last week and of course sealcoating season is in full swing.  Could things get any crazier?

As hard as all this has been and as exhausted as I am, I know we are headed in the right direction. Our lives are meant to be poured out.

Pray for us as we lean hard on God during this time. If you are interested in donating toys or soccer balls for African children, medical supplies or clothes for those without any, please contact me at melody@pahlow.com and I will collect them!

How the widows in Africa have changed my life...

This story is how my life changed after seeing how much the poor give when they trust God.  Help me Lord to give like them!

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=9eia4neab&v=001f92fxbmkmiCmxRhvLtFaEslJnNvbVU3W7YJVRKPuN81mAWoBbczF1uaYejQ9wc4OO0sEQO_Y5faAmguVIXLJXDNmZukYuD90NR8v3Y-tbdShNMcbeItNd_8iowZdqCQ8xG0WEMc7mCY%3D

Sad over African country resources being taken!

After reading this article, I thought it was important to mention it.  Wars have been waged over the importance of natural resources being siphoned off.  Being a personal witness to the poverty of citizens in various countries in Africa, it sickens me to see that the wealth of countries get stolen away with no benefit to those who need it most; the poor farmers in the villages. 

This article angers me beyond belief because it is an insult to any progression we have made as citizens of the earth.  We are brothers and sisters of the world and yet we steal from those who are unprotected and have no voice. 

http://allafrica.com/stories/201104111554.html

Women and children in Africa... a first hand acccount

 Halima telling me about the Kenyan refugee camp

 

Halima's daughter Isha looking at Ben's ring

Grandma Marion

Kakuma Refugee Camp

Why do African girls have to be afraid to walk to a watering hole or school?  Why do people struggle with disease and cancer?  Why are so many friends of ours in a season of sadness and loneliness? 

Today I am so broken over the world and many unanswered questions.  I have asked God to help me be someone who heals... someone who cares and doesn't look away from brokenness.  This 24 hours has been filled with true stories of African and American people alike needing God's intervention.  Ben and I went to 4 meetings today and what I can tell you is that everyone I met is in either a state of trial, ending a trial or waiting for one to come.  When those you love are hurting, it is so important to hurt with them.  There is just too much loneliness in this world to be alone and suffering.

We surprised some good friends this afternoon! Halima and Marion stayed with us for 3 weeks in 2004.  They are Somali refugees that were in a refugee camp in Kenya. Of course, as you see above they took the opportunity to dress me up! Marion is Halima's mother and now she is also grandmother to Halima's 6 kids.  They were brought to America by World Relief and have been living modestly as factory workers. 

Halima knew more English than when I first met her so I took the opportunitty to ask her questions about her experience in the refugee camp.  I asked her what it was like to grow up there and she said with utmost sincerity, "Africa bad... America good".  I wanted to go deeper and find out what was so good about America?  She first pointed out that she was not happy about the current gas prices and the lack of jobs which I found to be very interesting first point!  But mostly we talked about her trips to the watering hole at the camp.  She said there were certain places a girl could never go... especially the market or the watering hole.  She talked of the violence and being attacked by men.  Halima said, "I had to fight so hard to make those men stop".  She was young when she started getting water; as young as 8.  Halima spoke to me about how she lived in small shelter, only had a few beans for 1 meal a day and never had medicine to cure the incessant malaria problem.  But mostly I was blown away by her desire to LIVE and survive.  She was 16 when she came to America and had 2 children by that time.  She was also so hungry.  Halima's first meal was spaghetti and she ate more than 3 lbs. of it all by herself.  I will never forget that.  Halima remembers Africa with fear of physical violation, starvation, illness and hopelessness.  Halima sees America as a place to succeed even as a factory worker.

I want to help more women like Halima.  I want girls to have a fighting chance!  I know God has put a huge desire in my heart to be his hands and feet to those women and children in such vulnerable situations.  If you feel that God wants you to help them too, please give to our organization so that we can go and make it possible for women like Halima to find hope!  http://www.pahlow.com/

Food and water shortages in Uganda

Today is World Water Day!  It is not by coincidence that I am posting this blog on such an important issue.  Our body is made up mostly of water.  Not having enough to replenish a human being is unthinkable.

I have personally witnessed incredibly sick and dehydrated children walk miles for clean water in Rwanda and Uganda.  In this article, natives are speaking about the difficulties of finding water in the middle of a terrible drought.  Finding clean water is not even an option at this point... any water will do. 

Please pray for these children that are walking for hours to find water.  Children as young as 5 are very vulnerable during distant trips from their villages.  They can be mugged, raped and have the very water they walked all day to get taken from them.  Please pray for rain to fall and crops to be watered.  Your prayers are very much needed! Please also consider giving to our ministry so that we can continue to build water wells in villages all over Africa.  http://www.pahlow.com/


http://allafrica.com/stories/201103100342.html

Preparations for our journey

Here is the story I wrote about how much preparation goes into living overseas for 4 months!  Hope you enjoy reading it.  Let me know your thoughts!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Preparing-for-a-long-journey.html?soid=1104275316890&aid=ib0xNq10YOA

Till We Have Faces

Have you read the C.S. Lewis Book, Till We Have Faces?  Amazing story.  Orual the eldest sister complains to the Gods of the cruel things that have happened to her: "Perhaps the wise men will know whether my complaint is right..." (Chapter 1)

Isn't it true that we most often blame God when our circumstances bring us great pain?  We often think that God is angry with us and we can't find our footing in life.  I feel the most frustrated when people hurt around me.  Just like Orual whose own suggestion to her beautiful sister Psyche cost her dearly, I cling to what I have to see with my own eyes instead of what I can see with my heart. 

I decided today that instead of seeing pain, I want to see beauty... not hiding my face from horror but literally seeing the glory that is coming through it.  If I had that kind of faith I would be a new person.  It is like the verses in Romans 5 that says, "We rejoice in suffering because it produces endurances and then strength of character which leads to hope".  I don't mean that I want to suffer but when I do, I want to see it as an opportunity to look at my life in a fresh way. 

I think it is more than ok to do what Orual did and ask questions of God.  But if all she ever did was say, "You hurt me God" than she missed the point.  Everyone of us can be kinder... more understanding; even the most broken of us and honestly, the nicest people I have met have usually suffered the most.

God help me be like Orual and ask you questions... but also help me be full of grace to see how I may be lovely in my brokeness.

One Day Could be a Day too Late

After meeting with the African Continent Director of Awana yesterday, it has become apparent that poverty has stretched so far beyond all of my imaginings.  The world is a place filled with the poor and struggling.  Sometimes when I look around me all I can see is wealth... malls, cars, houses.  America is definitely still struggling but thank God most of us have food and shelter. The thought of a young child sick with AIDS or a dying widow with 5 children and no food or shelter really makes me break down and cry.

We looked through some old photos yesterday of families waiting to receive sponsorship.  I was struck again with a sense of urgency.  Who had passed away?  What child in the 5 didn't have a chance to grow up? 

If you have an opportunity to help, please consider doing so.  Time is so precious.  One day late could cost a life.  http://www.pahlow.com/

Article on inequality of womens right in Africa... its a MUST READ!

http://allafrica.com/stories/201102280843.html

Reflections

Yesterday night I was watching the world pass me by as Ben was driving me back from church.  The neat rows of corn harvested, the bare trees, the perfectly lit signs, the even roads, the lack of clutter and garbage on the streets... I was memorizing it.  I am saying, "good-bye" to all the safeness of America.  Everything is so clean and orderly.  In Africa there is nothing that is arranged or in rows.  Everything seems scattered and more like nature; unorganized and sometimes chaotic. 

But there is something different about stepping outside into that place versus my tidy suburban life.  There is adventure waiting around every corner.  There is usually someone who is desperately needy only 5 steps from my door.  Of course, this can happen any place in the world.  But for me, there is just something special about living in the craziness of malaria threats, poisonous snakes, huge bugs, healthcare that is hard to find, typhoon rains and even threatening government situations.  After hearing that you may think I have a death wish!  However, this is what the precious people of Africa live in every second of every day.  I want to be close to them and understand them as well as I can so that I can be worthy of helping.  Without living in this constant fear, it is hard to comprehend how to serve. 

God help me serve well.