Oh, To Have a Heart Like a Child

Since I have been feeling so deeply lately the desire to be with the children my heart is broken for I came to a conclusion on Friday: Even though I can't be there with them now, I can be proactive in supporting them and those that are there right now holding, loving , and helping them, especially in the Horn of Africa where the famine is currently happening. So I got an idea and spent the day making the sign you see here.

I play my fiddle every Saturday down at the Puyallup farmers market, kind of like a little summer job. Its surprising how well you can do busking once you learn the ropes. I decided that I would make this sign and also a bucket with a similar message and pictures on it and play all day and donate all the money I make to an organization that is doing work with The Children suffering from the effects of the famine specifically.

I played from 9am-2pm Saturday and the response was great! I was able to bring in $290. As the sign reads, either 290 children will eat for a day, or three children will get to eat daily for the estimated rest of the famine.....about 100 days.

It was such a blessing to see so many people desireing to give and love these hurting children.

But I was also blown away by how many people would stop, read the sign, look at me oddly and walk away. I don't know their circumstances, but it was almost as if they were trying to ignore the reality of whats happening to so many children...1 of every 3 are starving and dying of malnutrition in Somalia. But....don't we all try to ignore all the hurt and suffering around us?

I pray one day I am like a little boy that I met yesterday while I was playing. He looked about 8 years old. He came and read the sign, just starring at it and then quickly ran over to who I suspect was his mom. She handed him some money and he came back and proceded to drop a $10 bill in my case, the largest bill I recieved the entire day, the rest $1, $5 and change. His mom came up and said to me "That was his lawn mowing job money." In much gratitude I said a very big Thank You to him. He had probably just given me all the money he had to his name as an 8 year old boy. With out second thinking it he gave all he had because The Children needed it more than he did. Oh, why arn't I like that?!

It reminds me of the story of the widow in Luke 21:1-4 "While Jesus was in the Temple, He watched the rish people dropping their gifts into the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. "I tell you the truth." Jesus said, "this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."

That story is an amazing example of what it means to have a truly a giving and surrendered heart. That little boy was like the poor wodow, in that, he not only gave all he had, but among all the people that gave, most of them adults, he gave the most!

I pray that we all learn from the widow and this little boy what it means to give and invest in what is important and eternal rather than squandering our resources on pointless things.

What are we doing for these kids who are dying daily and may not know Jesus yet?

All of the money that was donated on Saturday is going to World Concern, 95 cents of very dollar ( the highest I could find) goes to help the kids suffering from the effects of the famine in Somalia.

Consider giving some of what you have been blessed with to them today!

~Ally-Jo

Waiting...One of the Hardest Things I Will Ever Do

The Lord has broken my heart for the children of Africa. I call them The Children. I long to be there amongst them in their suffering and pain. To love them and offer the slightest bit of hope and care that my own brokenness could possibly give them. To simply suffer with them as they are hurting. To share with them the One and Only thing that could ever satisfy their hunger.

I almost went to Ethiopia this summer. I would have been leaving in two weeks if I was still on the team. Finally deciding not to go was one of the hardest choices I have ever had to make. Ever. I cried day after day struggling and wondering why the Lord would have lead me part way down that path and broken my heart so strongly for those children that just talking about them filled my eyes with tears, then take it all away right before my eyes. I was upset and holding on to every fiber of possibility that was still left before me. I told the Lord you will have to really change my heart if you don't want me to go because right then, I felt that if I didn't go all I would be doing the entire time the team was gone was thinking about the fact that I wasn't there with them, holding the children, loving them as Jesus has loved me. But you know what, God answered my prayer, He did change my heart. Right as all possibility left I realized two things. One, I wasn't going to Ethiopia and that was okay. Two, this whole process wasn't even about Ethiopia, it was the Lord further preparing my heart, further breaking my heart as His is for the lost and hurting children for the day that I do go. It was Him saying to me, "My dearest daughter, I have given you a heart full of strong love and compassion for these children, but now is not your time. You will go, just not now. I still love you as much here as I would if you were serving in there in Africa. Please learn to lean on me and wait." He has taught me to not base my feelings of worth off of what I do or where I go, but rather in simply waiting before His throne for His timing, not my own. I could have pushed going to Ethiopia and it would have been amazing, but I would have been walking in error by stepping ahead of the Lord's timing for me to go. How often do we rush ahead of Him and then miss out in the end?

This month has been a tough one in regards to all that. So many people, friends and family, have been traveling and loving on those children as I yearn daily to do and I have had to daily remind myself that, Ally, its not your time yet, but its coming. And when it does, it will be that much more amazing because you have had to wait so long. By then you'll be a nurse and can help The Children so much more than you could now.

The Lord gave me this yesterday to encourage me.

Psalm 40 {Ally-Jo Version}

"I will wait patiently for the Lord to lead me.
He will turn to me and then open the door.
He will lift me out of my time or waiting,
out of my yearning and tears.
He will set my feet on solid ground
and steady me as I finally begin my journey.
He will give me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to God for answered prayer.
Many will see what He does through my hands and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
Oh the Joy of those who trust and wait on the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud things or idols of this world.
O Lord my God, you will perform many wonders before my eyes.
Your plans for me are to numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all the wonderful deeds you have done in my life,
I would never come to the end of them.
You take no delight in a man's sacrifices, offerings, or good deeds.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand - You don't require offerings, good deeds, and sacrifices.
Then I will say to you: "Look, I have come. As you called me so long ago. I will take joy in doing your will, my God, for Your instructions and plan for my life have already been written on my heart."
May I tell all Your people about Your justice.
May I never be afraid to speak out.
May I never keep the good news of you justice hidden in my heart.
May I always talk about your faithfulness and saving power.
May I tell everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
Lord, please don't hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
For troubles surround me - they are to many to count.
My sins pile up so high. I can't see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
Often, I loose all courage.
Please Lord, rescue me daily from myself.
Come Lord and help me.
May the things that try to destroy me be put to shame and humiliated.
May all who take delight in my trouble be turned around in disgrace.
Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, "Aha! We've got her now!"
But Lord, when I search for you may I be filled with joy and gladness in You alone.
May I love Your salvation and shout repeatedly, "The Lord is Great!"
As for me now, since I am poor, selfish, and needy of your grace,
please Lord keep me in you thoughts.
You are my Helper and my Savior.
O, my God, I am here waiting, please do not delay."

I am here waiting...as my Bible dictionary defines it;

"To Wait: To look forward with expectation; to stay in your current place in expectation of...."

I will be here, in my current place....waiting.

Ally-Jo