Fearless

Last year, several ladies from my home church and I began reading and discussing the book, Fearless  by Max Lucado.  Fear was a study topic I had encouraged my friend, and fellow book enthusiast, to look into when we first chatted about beginning a book discussion group at our church.  You see, fear has been a large part of my life for as long as I can remember.  My folks will tell you, I was not the baby who giggled when her daddy playfully tossed her up in the air.  I didn't learn to properly ride a bicycle until I was, well, let's just say there were double-digits.  I didn't learn to swim until I was sixteen and only managed to pass my swimming class by choosing to dive into the deep end on the spur of the moment, just because I was in a good mood that day.  In my late teens, I began struggling with depression and anxiety, for which I was later medicated and received counselling.  As an adult, I've been plagued by worry over finances, health and my family's well-being.  For every idea my husband has had, I can give you about a hundred "what-ifs."  Fear stinks.

I've tried so many times in my life to just "Let go and let God."  The letting go part isn't so difficult.  It is the not taking it back part that is the challenge.  So many nights, I've prayed and said, "Okay, Lord, I'm giving this to you," only to pick whatever it was back up in the morning.

The Lord tells us in His word, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)  Only a few months ago, during another discussion group, a pastor shared this word and I decided I needed to make it my word.  Needless to say, tonight, I think I may have begun to clue in.

This past Friday, May 31st, Lacey and I were able to speak about our journey on the local Christian radio station.

The question was asked,  "How did you feel going into Africa?  Were you afraid at all?" 

Both Lacey and I responded with an overwhelming, "No!"

Our reasoning was, of course, that we were there because God wanted us to be.  He had a purpose for us there and, because He was with us, we had nothing to fear.

"Be strong and of good courage, 

do not fear nor be afraid of them; 

for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. 

He will not leave you nor forsake you." 

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV)

It is true.  Before we left, I was not afraid of going to Africa or anything that went along with it.  I was nervous about leaving my family behind and missing them; but, that was all that concerned me.  

As I look back on my time in Rwanda and Kenya, I miss it so much.  I miss the people and the places and the work.  Most of all, I miss the freedom from fear.  Each day as I awoke, I felt so much purpose. With that purpose, fear was pushed aside.  I literally was on a mission and it was God's will.  Knowing that gave me freedom.  

I wasn't concerned about mosquito bites and malaria.  (Later was tested for it upon my return, but I'm fine and that's another story all together.)  I cradled ill children and taught parents how to help their little ones feel better.  I hugged, held and cried with amazing women who happened to be HIV+.  I worked with a wonderful nurse and prayed over the sick.   I climbed up the steep hills and mountains of Rwanda, not worrying if I slipped down the muddy trail.  I rode in a very questionable boat taking on water over a lake that was reportedly some seven kilometres deep.  I preached for the first time, completely on the fly.  I walked through the thirty acre dump in Nairobi, Kenya, flanked by armed guards, strolled through the slums skipping over puddles of raw sewage, and I gave a testimony I had never shared with anyone before in front of a room full of almost complete strangers.  Most amazingly of all, I discovered a painful secret from my childhood, while holding a child that God told me had gone through the same thing.  Through this child and through the prayer of a beautiful sister in Christ, God released me from that pain and much of the fear it had caused me to feel for so many years.

Now, I am back in Canada.  I am back to what some may call my "real" life.  Everything I experienced in Rwanda and Kenya is indeed real life.  It was a God-given experience, meant not only to be a way He would use me in a tiny, tiny way to perhaps bring some joy and the love of Christ to others, but also to teach me something so valuable.  When God gives us a purpose, when He chooses us to do His work in whatever respect, be it raising a family to love Him or leading thousands of people to Him... He means for us to be fearless.

This may very well be something I will need to be reminded of.  I am so thankful that I can draw on these wonderful experiences.  Sometimes, I just lie in my bed and think, "Wow! I may never have gone to Hawaii or skied down the Alps (or anywhere else for that matter), but God sent me to Africa and I wasn't afraid.  How cool is that?" 

So, tonight, as I have done many nights before, I am releasing fear to God; but, this time is different.  This time, I know from experience that I am capable of living in a fearless manner thanks to my Father in Heaven.  If, tomorrow morning, I try to pick up that nasty fear again, do me a favor, convict me of it will you?  After all, a life without fear is freedom in Christ!

"Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)

Love,

Michelle

Gee, It's Another Update!

A little princess from the Dream Centre

Yes, it's time again for another update.  Thanks to the success of the online auction, our flight taxes are now paid off!  Thank you for your help with that!  As previously mentioned, Lacey has completed all of her fundraising for Home of Hope.  She is now raising funds for her immunizations which are coming up soon.

I am still raising funds for Home of Hope.  I have a current total of $1006 into Home of Hope and cash donations in the amount of $280 which are going toward my immunizations.  I have also recently acquired a part-time job, which I hope will assist me in accruing funds for the trip.  I still require $1194 to be donated directly to Home of Hope no later than three weeks prior to our departure, so by approximately April 9, 2013.  My immunizations are scheduled for April 12.

That is all for now.  Thank you so much for your help and prayers!

Love,
Michelle

Insert Clever Title Here

As I write this, I'm rocking out to Toby Mac on KLOVE and trying to come up with another clever title.  So far, I've got nothing...though by the time you read this post, there will be a title - clever or not.

I'll start with a quick update.  Our online auction is in full swing!  We began on Thursday, February 21 and have raised $125 so far.  All monies earned through the auction will be divided between Lacey and myself.  We would like to thank all of our sponsors once again for their donations of products and services.  Check out the links to our sponsors on the left side of the blog.  You can visit our auction on Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/auction4momsmissionofhope/

Lacey is a ROCKSTAR!!  She has compiled the funds required to be donated directly to Home of Hope and her current total is $2080!  Way to go girl!!  Lacey is still collecting cash donations to go toward immunization costs, flight taxes, donations to be left in Africa, and other incidentals. If you would like to send her a cash donation, please email her at lacey.klassen@gmail.com to make arrangements.

I, Michelle, am still at my previous total of $448.22, but I'm confident the Lord will provide.  We're working hard to raise funds and the rest is in His hands. You can still donate to Home of Hope in my stead by using the "Donate" button on the top left of this page and putting my name in the comments box.  If you'd like to send me a cash donation, please email me at michelle.maisonville@gmail.com for my mailing address.

In other fundraising news, we're looking into doing a Tupperware fundraiser as well.  So if you or someone you know needs some kitchen goodies, please keep us in mind.  We'll make sure to post an update when the fundraiser is set-up.  

Children from the feeding programme in Rwanda

We are also receiving donations of baby items, children's items, bras, and other necessities from some of our wonderful friends.  Thank you so much for your generosity.  It touches our hearts and we know how much it will bless the people of Rwanda and Kenya.  We can't wait to see their faces when we give them these gifts.

On Monday, February 25, we will be featured in the BirthSource.com blog run by my friend, Connie Livingston.  Be sure to check it out.  If you are a childbirth professional, you'll also want to browse her online store for a large selection of childbirth education supplies!  Thank you so much, Connie, for thinking of us!

That's all the news for now.  Please keep checking here for updates!  Thank you once again for all of your support and prayers.  We appreciate it!

Hope you and yours have a wonderful weekend!

God bless!
Michelle

Reading in Preparation

I have been doing a lot of reading lately. Two books in particular have struck me as life-changing. The first is called "Children and the Supernatural" by Jennifer Toledo. It is the story of how children all over the world are being filled with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to work. What makes this book so close to my heart is that her story begins in Kenya. Here is a link to an interview of Jennifer about her experience in Kenya by Sid Roth.                                                          

The other book is "Revolution in World Missions" by K.P. Yohannan. It is a common book in Christian circles, probably because copies are routinely given away free. I had had a copy for a few years, but had never read it. In preparation of our trip to Africa, God told me that I needed to read this book. It is the story of the founder of Gospel for Asia. As a native from India, he does a wonderful job of pointing out how comfortable we are in North America. We just do not realize that outside of our affluence, 2/3 of the world live in such poverty. Here is a quote from page 42-43:

  "Often when I spoke at a church, the people would appear moved as I told of suffering and needs of the native evangelists. They usually took an offering and presented me with a check for what seemed like a great amount of money. Then with their usual hospitality, they invited me to eat with the leaders following the meeting. To my horror, the food and "fellowship" frequently cost more than the money they had just given to missions. And I was amazed to find that American families routinely eat enough meat at one meal to feed an Asian family for a week. No one ever seemed to notice this but me, and slowly I realized they just had not heard the meaning of my message. They were simply incapable of understanding the enormous needs overseas."

What I take away from this is: How many times have I been presented with how great the need is, and I am uncaring, or at the very least completely unable to imagine the suffering and the hunger because I have never suffered or hungered like the 1 billion hungry people in 2/3 of the world. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to go and see how great the need is. I do not doubt that God will break my heart when I see the destitute first hand. It is my responsibility, however, to prepare my heart to perform God's work for me, whether it be in Africa, or here at home.
In a fun "Pray by Numbers Game"*, it was prophesied that God has given me a work to do and that I am to do it. I know He has called me to both Streets Alive and Africa and I thank everyone for their support - in prayers, monetarily, emotional and even physical support (Thanks to my hubby and mom for looking after my kids!)



*The Pray by Numbers Game is a simple exercise. Count the number of people in your group (X), and place papers labelled 1 through X in a hat. Everyone grabs a number, but does not look at it. Then the group prays for the person representing each number. God may give a word, phrase, vision, or a myriad of other things. One person records what is said, and each person gets to see at the end what was prayed over them. It is not uncommon to find that God has given you something about yourself!