Category Archives: The Call

What Is The meaning Of Life?

23 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by in Growing Pains, Life in Africa, Our Family, The Call

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meaningoflifeI asked this question on my Facebook wall this week and had some great and, yet some predictable answers from Christians. My other friends were mostly quiet, other than a joke or two. I guess I was asking myself that question, not wanting to be predictable. When circumstances in life become overwhelming and you have to just keep going, but eventually, this question seems to surface in some way or another.

Life is so much more than yesterday. Tomorrow has not yet come. What I have is now. I am thankful for all my yesterdays because without them, I wouldn’t be what I am today. The losses and gains of yesterday- all make this moment possible.

And in this moment, I feel profound loneliness. Living so far from my family al these years in Africa, has created a chasm greater and longer than I could have imagined. It is a longing that has never left me. Yet, I have been given the riches of the most special kind of life, family, and of friendship. People have reached out to us. in times of crisis, in times of joy, and in times of just living life. Families are complex things. Does anyone ever really have their expectations met through family members?  From Generations before and those to follow, unwanted records are kept of our inconstancies and failures. Heart wounds sometimes never heal and are most raw when felt by a close loved one. To me, it has been part of the “calling”, to leave all and follow where God leads. We did that, but there has been a price, a price we were willing to make. The cost has been great, not only to me, but to my mother, father, sister and brother. Not to mention, the multitude of extended relatives I hold dear, including a 97 year old grandma in Texas! I love them and I miss them a lot of the time. I long for that phone call for no reason, that quick “pop-in” surprise visit.

As a Christian, I also have a family that surpasses my own genetic connections, though treasured and loved. I also have people in my life that don’t believe like me, but they have been there for me and their hearts are good. Better sometimes than those who carry the title of Christian. Of course, I want all my friends to know God like I know Him, feel His love like I have. To really know what it is to have a purpose in this life that outlives us.

If I figure it out, I will sure let you know! As I write, my house is quiet. It has turned into another day by the clock striking 12. Besides the noise of the Eland walking around the fence, the hippo grunting as he grazes in the grass nearby, and the sound of the jet’s night flight overhead on its way to Joburg, and the humming of my fan that I need to lull me to sleep, I know this one thing. I may feel lonely, but I am not alone. I may miss my loved ones, but they are still my loved ones. I may not know the direction my 4 children will take, but I do know that they have an imperfect family, but they have a family that loves them and is there for them in their parents. I would move heaven and earth to be there for my kids. They will never be able to say otherwise. As my boys once watched Anne of Green Gables and saw the fiery red-headed Meagan Follows in a rage for her cause and her mistakes, they all looked at each other and said, “Oh my gosh, that’s our mom!” Between being called Scarlet O’Hara for my fiery temper and Lucille Ball for the messes I find myself in, I think at one point, I might need some help! Well, I have received lots of it from lots of people through the years. In the lonely times, I just have to remember those are the very people who were there for me. Family, friends, acquaintances and perfect strangers. Through a house fire, stage 4 cancer in my husband, kids’ crises time and again, I have never been alone. God is so real, so present and you know what? He has loved me and been there for me-through-you, the people in my life. He wraps His great arms of love around me when I need it most, through a smile, a hug, a special note.

8dc32804-3e4e-4da4-a7dd-ff45d8e9689dI am grateful for you. Grateful for the kindness expressed through each “like”, each comment, each thought. Perhaps I have scratched the surface as the clock strikes 12 in the darkness of my room. I don’t feel so alone now. Life without others in it, is no life at all. Go and find someone today who you can touch with whatever you find yourself able to give. I promise you, it not only feels good, it feels great! It abolishes loneliness and ushers in a connection with another human being and even, God. He is so creative to love us through others. Be that other today. And after you do-come back and share it with me, will you? People need to know how to do it-its simple-so DO IT!

*Photos from Photobucket

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The Road, The Hair, And A Place Called There- Africa at Last!

29 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by in Life in Africa, Marriage, The Call

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While we were in Southern Africa we did many things. We served missionaries, helping them in their various works, taught in Bible schools, spoke in churches, went into Soweto, where the news was still fresh of tire necklace burning in the battle against apartheid in South Africa. We were offered churches to pastor, bible schools to teach in, many opportunities came our way. But we took a trip to Botswana with a seasoned missionary named Charles Haupt. He was to do a trip to check on his work in the Northern Part of Botswana. During our trip to Botswana, our time was filled with a lot of driving over vast expanses of land. The roads were rough, sandy, and like winter in the desert, the weather was freezing cold. We traveled by day and sat around the fire by night listening to the sounds of the African night. We heard the lions roaring, saw hippos and elephants grazing and awoke in the morning to the magnificent African sunrise.

Until, at last, we reached the beautiful people who live in the remote areas of Northwest Botswana. As we arrived at our first destination we saw such an eagerness to receive us as their special guests. Together with Charles we shared the good news, gave out clothing and shared bright oranges with the kids. Each child lined up one by one, stretching out both hands to receive it as a sign of respect. They respectfully waited, sitting in small circles until all the children were served. They waited for the nod from the Chief and tore into them and ate the whole thing, skin and all! At that point, I looked over at Jerry and he was crying. I was also touched but I could see, for him, there was something more. He had seen something years before, even in his rebellion and time away from God. He saw a vision of himself in this very place with these very people. He knew at that moment that this was where God wanted us to be. I had a call to Southern Africa, but I married a man that had specifically prayed a dangerous prayer, “God, send me where no one else is willing to go, where it’s not popular or glamorous.” So he sent us to the edge of the desert, the mouth of the Okavango Delta in the remote village of Maun, Botswana. The rest of that journey was nothing but solid “knowing” that we wanted to work in this region. The rest of our time in Africa was great, but nothing compared to our experience in Botswana. It shined like a diamond above all else. Our Pastor, John Osteen had a book written from a sermon he preached on “A Place Called There”. It’s about when you know that you know you are in the right place at the right time with a destiny to fulfill. And at that place, God will provide all you need!

I have included an excerpt from his book at this link: http://www.cfaith.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2029:a-place-called-there&catid=57:destiny&Itemid=91

His son, Pastor Joel Osteen has now put out a new book out about the Legacy of our father in the faith, John Osteen at http://www.joelosteen.com/pages/store-product.aspx?pid=b949ef8c-d588-e111-a97a-005056810023

Wedding Done-What next?

25 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by in Life in Africa, Marriage, The Call, The Early Days

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I am on a roll today writing. Thanks for taking the time to read!

Once the wedding bells were over and the gifts were packed away in storage, we hitched up the trailer to the old Mercedes Benz we had bought to replace my Toyota Celica and the 2-seater MG that Jerry drove. It was a painful parting, between him and that little red MG. They were quite a pair! For all practical intents though, the old yellow Merc was solid, reliable, and most of all- the right price! There was just one problem. The mechanic that gave it a good work over in Houston before we left for our long journey took a look at all the grease spots inside the hood and said in his broken German accent, “Jerry, every picture tells a story.” So off we went, forewarned, on our journey across the USA to unchartered territories. We were off to raise money for our life’s calling; Africa- as soon as possible.Image We decided early on that we were not going have to succumb to the methodologies of missionaries of old which was, to beat on doors and ask for help and handouts to fulfill the Great Commission. We would handle it ourselves and work for our money. So our plan was in motion. Off to Southern California to host a Christian Expo, which would feature countless Christian businesses and ministries, showcasing their services and products to the wider Christian community. A hall was rented, ads placed and the work was ahead of us. We decided to take the “shortest distance between 2 points” route, which turned out to be a big mistake. Though the rolling mountains of Utah, complete with the Grand Canyon were breathtaking. But we found ourselves praying for the ol’ merc on most inclines and every time we made it over, we would breath a sigh of relief! At long last we rolled into Anaheim, California where our dear friends, the Humphrey’s, our hosts, were waiting for us. We had a nice little room just off the kitchen with a private bathroom, well, almost private, it also was the way out to the swimming pool, which was just outside our bedroom window. Now we are newlyweds mind you! And though this arrangement was only temporary (a few months) it was compounded by the fact that there was no lock on the door! The family had 5 precious children, 3 of which were under the age of 5! I found myself in a state of shock. This Christian girl who had kept herself pure all those years for the man of her dreams, now was at the mercy of a situation with NO PRIVACY!!! When we married, Jerry was not much of a handyman. But after 20 years in Africa he makes McGuiver look bad! He can now fix anything- or get it fixed, But the priorities of a young married man are a little different than the girls’! And privacy was not one of them. We got through those first months and there were some romantic times. Every evening we sat in the front lawn of the big house and watched the fireworks light up the sky as the spectacular grand finale of Walt Disney World displayed itself before us just blocks away. While Jerry was out drumming up business for the show, I was busy helping out the lady of the house, a godly, awesome woman named Sheila. I was privileged to be present at the home birth of her baby, who is now a grown man! I learned so much from her during our time together. Things that stayed with me into my early years of marriage and motherhood on the mission field where I didn’t have a mentor. Things just came back to me that I learned during those early months of marriage. So, even with the challenges of all I experienced, I came away from the experience much richer than before. After the show was over and all was said and done, we had enough money to get to Denver, Colorado where we were being sent to do our own show. We were so excited and happy to be on our way so we could make enough money to get to Africa for our first trip. We would do a show twice a year in 2 different states, and go do mission work in between. At least that was the plan. We spent 3 months in Denver putting things together and held a great expo there. We filled the hall with vendors, had some great Christian entertainment, and met many new, wonderful friends, including Wally and Marilyn Hickey, and many of those with their ministry, who remain friends to this day.

But when all was said and done, we had a great show, thousands of dollars came in and thousands of dollars went right back out and it was a break-even in the end.

Watch for the next post to see how it turned out. How do you think it should work with fund raising for missionaries?

The Couple Part 6: The Wedding

06 Sunday May 2012

Posted by in Life in Africa, Marriage, My Journey, The Call

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On June 7th, 1986 we were joined in marriage at the First Baptist Church of Friendswood, Texas. We were the first couple to be Wed in the beautiful white, victorian Gazebo under the great oak tree built in memory of Dot Wilden’s Imagebeloved husband. Money was tight for us both so it really had be put together on a shoestring budget. At the home of the Duffer’s we had a magical night at our Hawaiian Luau following our dress rehearsal the night before the wedding. Jerry Duffer performed the ceremony 18 years later came to work with us in Botswana! Rachel Burchfield told a story as she did “The Commissioning” of us as a couple to Africa as an important part of the ceremony. She told of how, when I was a teenager I had spent the night and was having a quiet time with God. I came out and said to her, “God spoke to me!!” She said, “What did he say?” With great excitement I shared that God told me my life was going to be a life of perseverance, and that he was going to teach me perseverance. Her eyes got big and I said, “By the way, what is perseverance?” So has my life been in many, many ways as we have learned to stick with it through thick and thin!

We had a beautiful wedding and God pieced together every detail, including the pearls lovingly sewn on my wedding dress and Texas-style hat. It was so wonderful to see so many people pull together to make it an unforgettable event. Flowers, music, cake, food, photos, presents potpourri and friends were all given by the amazing people in our lives.

When we celebrated our 20 year wedding anniversary, we looked back in awe at the wonderful gift the Lord has given us in one another to fulfill His calling in much greater ways than we had ever imagined.Image

We made a promise never to say the “D” word, (divorce). We’ve had our share of struggles as two people with very strong wills and ideas. But when placed in the Lord’s hands, He can do wonders with our flaws and weave them into a wonderful tapestry of destiny for His Glory!