Kicked out of School at 13 years old!

04 Saturday Jan 2014

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Day 5 -500 Words A Day Challenge

Has there ever been a song that just sent you to another place, song that so captured your heart’s cry and brought healing to your wounds? I was sitting in a Christian School and my life reflected anything but that of a Christian. I found myself in a school assembly hall listening to the story of God’s great love-plan for mankind. God, wrapped in flesh given the name Jesus, sent to take my sin upon himself, so I could be connected and have a relationship with Him.

I was on a path of self-destruction at 14. I was kicked out of a public Jr. High school for my bad behavior at 13 that included cussing out my choir teacher on a pretty regular basis, smoking, skipping school and various other things they had on their list when they called my mom to come and get me.  There was a new Christian School that I was taken to and the 3rd day there I also got kicked out for passing out drugs to the “cool” guy in the parking lot. Kicked out of there, but by some miracle I was given a chance to come back, thanks to some pretty loving people on the school board that I owe a great debt to up to now!

That day, in that Chapel service, God, wrapped his love around me and got my attention for the first time. I said, “God, if you are real, please come and do something in me. I know I am not living right or doing right. Come, and make your home in my heart. Wash me clean from all the junk in my life and give me a new start today.”  That’s all it took, a heartfelt cry from my heart to His ears. And guess what? I found out, for myself, that God is VERY real! He so drastically changed my life that day that people could see it in my face! I was FREE! Washed clean. Fresh start! Imagine. I popped my head in to the principles’ office and told him the great news!

What I didn’t know is that they had already called my mom and told her that I was busted for sneaking in some Pot or Dakka as they call it in Botswana. They failed to tell her the great news of my “new life”.  I wasn’t even aware that I was busted at the time. I was sitting at my desk when the teacher came and told me I was wanted in the Principles’ office. As I rounded the corner, I saw, on his desk, the remnant of a rolled joint. Someone had ratted me out. I sat there, wondering that the timing couldn’t be worse. He was bound to call the police and that was it for me. It was not my first offence. As we sat there and exchanged glances, I said something to him that made him know I was for real in my new found faith. I said, “Mr. Grimes, that was mine and I did wrong. You can do whatever you feel you need to do, I understand. But one thing I know for sure, is that God has forgiven me.”

As I left the office, I didn’t know what was ahead. But I had peace. UNTIL, I remembered, I had bought my very first significant quantity of Marijuana that very day and it was in my handbag under my desk.  I had saved my babysitting money for weeks to buy it. I passed a note to a trusted friend whose sister had sold it for me. She too, had given her life to God that day. I reminded her of the stuff in the bag and said to “meet me in the bathroom urgently”. When we got there, we split up the goods and little by little, flushed it down the toilet. With each flush, in my heart I was flushing my past away.

A lot of things happened in that season and it took time for people-especially my mother and that school board, to believe that my encounter with God was real. Someone once said to me, “all this talk about Jesus’ blood, its just gross!” But I am here to tell you, it is that very blood, that Jesus shed for you and for me, that has the power to still the storm, to calm the raging sea inside of our hearts. It’s that blood and all that it represents, that gave me strength to go through some really tough times in the coming years. My dad left, my mom nearly died, my brother ran away from home, and I was left with my little blue eyed sister, so innocent and my mom. I got a job and I finished school and by the grace of God I am where I am today because of the price Jesus paid on the cross.

Thanks Andrae’ Crouch, for writing this song. It has reminded me that without Jesus making a way to God through the ultimate sacrifice, I would not be where I am today.

Andrae’ Crouch is a well-known name to anyone on the gospel music scene and many circles around the world. He became a preacher’s kid as a little boy when his dad was asked to pastor a church. He started out on the piano and never stopped! Around 14, he started writing songs and leading the choir. Up to that time he had a stuttering problem so he let is twin sister speak for him in public.  At 15, he had written a song, but tossed it in the trash because he thought it was poor. His sister, Sandra, thought differently and salvaged it. It became his first published song and it is the song that captioned my story today.

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“The Blood Will Never Loose It’s Power” Andrae’ Crouch

The blood that Jesus shed for me way back on Calvary

The blood that gives me strength from day to day

It will never loose its power.

It reaches to the highest mountain

It flows to the lowest valley

The blood that give me strength from day to day

It will never loose its power.

It soothes my doubts and calms all my fears

And it dries all my tears

The blood that gives me strength from day to day

It will never loose its power.

Thanks Andrae’ Crouch, for writing this song. It has reminded me that without Jesus making a way to God through the ultimate sacrifice, I would not be where I am today, with the awesome adventure and joy of serving God in Africa for over 25 years.

info on Andrae’ Crouch taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andra%C3%A9_Crouch 

Having a baby-on the farm in Africa!

03 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in Life in Africa

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http://goinswriter.com/my500words/ day 3

The labor pains finally came, early in the morning. My due date had passed by 2 weeks, and it showed.  I had decided that I was going to have my baby at home, and not invite the doctor to the party. I had made the mistake of reading a book called “The Silent Knife”. It was a book on the woes of unnecessary C-Sections. Not the most recommended reading for a first time mom about to give birth! I had decided that our domestic worker, Johanna, would be my midwife. After all, she had given birth to 8 children of her own- at home.

I had assisted as moral support in 2 home births up to that point as well and decided that If they could do it, so could I!  About Mid morning my friend, Estelle, came over to see how I was doing. She was shocked to find that I was in labour!  It wasn’t long till the whole Calgary was there, all urging me to go to the hospital. I was determined to stay and have my baby at home with no running water or electricity. I had put on 35 pounds to my 100 pound body during this pregnancy and had “lived off the land” and gone by the book when it came to my diet.  Lots of Protein, Fresh veggies and fruits, and just the right amount of this and that.

22 hours later, after Michelle, one of my dearest friends from Johannesburg and her husband Wessel arrived, they conspired with Jerry and the doctor to get me to the hospital because “it just wasn’t happening”. The labour pains were 2.1/2 minutes apart for over 10 hours. I didn’t even have my bag packed. I wasn’t planning to go to the hospital! I figured all I needed was my praise music, my book on praying the scriptures and the boiled shoestring to tie off the cord!

The doctor said he wanted to take me in to break my water and see if that would help.  So down the 2 mile very bumpy, deep sand road we went, labour pains and all. Well, it didn’t help. Still not happening. So, after 22 hours of labour, they decided to do a c-section. There was only a general anesthetic, no epidural or any thing remotely similar in that small town hospital. So out I went and seconds later came our huge baby boy who was promptly handed over to his father – outside the theatre door! His life was to be one of adventure, just like his birth, we just didn’t know it at the time!

All of that proper eating produced me a 9 pound 12 ounce bouncing baby boy, 22 inches long! I woke up long enough for Jerry to tell me, as I was being wheeled out, “honey, it’s a boy (his face shining) and He’s beautiful!.” Back to zzz land and in the middle of the night I found my self awakened by the sound of a crying baby. It was dark, in the middle of the night. I just knew it was my baby so I tried to sit up to find the light, but then the realization of what took place hit me and the pain paralysed me! I was looking for a light, a buzzer, something. I then tried to speak out for someone to come, but could only whisper, evidently due to the tube they put down my throat in surgery. So, I figured all I could do was whistle. So I gave a little whistle…nothing, then I whistled a little louder.. Still nothing. Luckily, being raised in Texas on a cattle farm, I knew how to whistle LOUD.  Finally I heard a nurse coming down the corridor saying in Afrikkans, and after translation said, “ Is that someone whistling?” I was crying by this time and whispered out, “Can I see my baby?”

Immediately Jay Remick Lackey was brought in to me and I fell in love at first site! He looked to be 3 months old, he was so big but so perfect! Many adventures were ahead for this kid, but the rest of this story can be read at https://janalackey.com/2012/03/06/baboons-and-babies/ 

I’ve Conquered My Fears!

02 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Life in Africa

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Day 2—- 500 word challenge

 ImageEveryone has fears they have to conquer. When we moved to Africa, over 25 years ago, there was a lot we could have been afraid of. We had a house in the middle of the bush. It was a rental and part of a cattle farm at the back of the property. During our 2 years there, we encountered a number of things that would send chills up your spine. We had a black Mamba slither across the floor next to our toddler, the sound of scorpions in the ceiling, baboons helping themselves to my vegetable garden. Jerry became a craftsman at killing aggressive snakes when they came around. One pound on the head and they die pretty fast. But there was one thing that Jerry, my brave husband, WAS afraid of and that was the gecko, the cute little lizard that helped out the mosquitos in the house.  

One day, he made up his mind he was going to overcome that fear. So, he saw the little guy on the wall and mustered up enough courage to go and take it with his own bare hands and squeeze it till it was dead. If you are a conservationist, forgive us, but this was a big deal to him at the time. Heck, he may freak out when he sees this story! From then on, the little creatures were free to live amongst us and do their job in our home. Even now, when I jump after seeing an even heartier version where we live he won’t let me send Cleo, our Jack Russell after it.

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A few years later, when the first two of our boys were still young, around 10 and 12, we were in Vic Falls, Zimbabwe with a team of over a hundred 100 from Global Adventures. We hosted their groups every summer for fifteen years. It was great seeing the young people have an awesome adventure trip, following 3 weeks of hard work in the villages, serving in various ways and learning about the rich culture of Botswana. They did everything from Bungee jumping off the Vic Falls Bridge, microlighting over the falls, white water rafting and gorge swinging.

 The gorge swing is a combo of a bungee jump and free falling with a 3 point harness for about 100 meters then swings across the huge gorge of the falls then up and down again till you land next to the Zambezi River.

 My boys are very different from one another. Remick, the firstborn is an all or nothing kind of guy, looking for the extreme adventure in everything he does. Jordan, the second born, is the cool, laid back, thinker son. It has to have logic and good reason if he is going to do it. But on this particular day, somehow, his brother and dad talked him into doing the gorge swing that I just described. Remick and Jordan were strapped together, tandem style, and at the count of 3, I saw both of my boys take the step over the edge and I held my breath and said a prayer. My heart was racing and I wondered if Jordan would ever speak to us again. As I steadied my hand with the oversized video cam of its day, as they reached their final destination, I heard a little voice from the little spot far down the gorge scream. It was Jordan, with both fists triumphantly in the air, screaming, “I’ve conquered my fears!”Image

Do you have a fear today, something that paralyzes you? I challenge you to face that thing, and give it a good kick!

When faced with challenges David, the shepherd boy who became a king, once said, “ Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.  From the end of the earth I will cry to You. When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalms 61:1,2

And Paul, the Jesus hater turned Jesus follower, said this: 

Roman’s 8:37-39  (NKJV)

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

You plus God equals conqueror!

 (bungee photos from Shearwater, Victoria Falls) 

 

 

My New Years Resolution

02 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in Life in Africa, My Journey

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If there was one word that I hope to embrace and become this year, its “diligent”. On a mission to make my season (50 something) to count and get the most out of it, it is going to take drastic measures. I am a person with a lot on my plate, but I have evolved enough that I have to be strategic with my days. Like many people, this is a wannabe thing-to set goals for the new year. I am teaming up with some pretty successful people to do this. 1. Alece Ronzino of oneword365.com 2. Bit the bullet and signed up for Michael Hyatt’s 5 day course bestyearever.me/ and last, but not least, 3. Took up the challenge goinswriter.com/my500words/

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So, starting now, I am writing +-500 words per day for 31 days. Besides being diligent to be a good to myself, wife, mom, pastor, and whatever else, I will be writing. I started the blog with some good kick, but stopped way too soon. This blog is my declaration to you, the reader that-I am back! 25 years in Africa has changed my life and i am going to be writing about that change. Stories of challenges, victories, crazy stuff that would be hard to believe if you don’t know me-that’s what I am going to share.

Lots of people have stories inside of them, and I am going to be one of those who do something about it! If you are a writer wannabe- then take up Jeff Goin’s challenge too and let’s put some pen to the paper, or fingers to the keys and get going!

It reminds me of a time when I was around 15 years old.  I was at my mentor’s home. (Rachel Burchfield) I was having a “quiet time”, reading the bible and talking to God when I heard a voice, deep down, that said, “Jana, I am going to give you a life of perseverance”. Wow. God actually spoke to me! So excited, I ran out of the room and at the breakfast table where she and her mom and sister were sitting, I shared this amazing news. Then, I paused and said, “Rachel, what is perseverance anyway?” Fast forward to my wedding day, 26 years old, Rachel gave Jerry and I a charge at our wedding. She shared that story that I had long forgotten. Up to that point, I had plenty of opportunities to say I was living a life that needed lots of perseverance. Now, fast forward again, today, in my 52nd year of life, I can, and will by God’s grace and diligence, write about how I have seen that word-perseverance- shape my life at every level. There are already blogs written on this site that have started telling the story. Go with me, if you will, and we will adventure together! I was tasked that this first day of the 31 day challenge should not be edited, just a “rant”. So here it is. I am pressing the button on Day 1!

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There is a First Time for Everything!

12 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in Inspirational Thoughts, Life in Africa

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ImageThis is a pretty exciting week for me. I have waited for years for this time to come! A very special young lady in our care who has had her share of hardships is experiencing many “firsts” as we travel together to South Africa to see if she is a candidate for a Cochlear Implant. She has been deaf since she was around 3 years old.

Starting today there are lots of firsts:  First plane, first elevator, first SA burger, first huge City, first view of so many lights and freeways like spagetti, first parking garage large Mall and our first trip together! This is truly awesome! She has been with us at LBOM for over 10 years now. We have seen her grow up from a child who lived in the hospital for 9 years before being released into foster care with us into a beautiful young lady filled with gifts! She may be hearing impaired, but man can she dance! She can feel the beat in her bones and dance with the best of them!

This week might produce the desired results with the doctors, but if it didn’t, this whole experience would have been worth it! I appreciate your cheering us on!

How about you? Can you share a dream you have for someone who is in your life? Maybe just a little bit of help is all someone needs to step into their destiny!