Korah-“Cursed”

Just when I thought God could not possibly wreck me anymore, He did. He tore the veil even further from my eyes and I am a complete mess. COMPLETE MESS. I know what you’re thinking, "Britany, you’re already a mess.” Well, I’m talking way worse than before, and way messier.

I have recently been looking for a ministry in Ethiopia that we can get involved in. Ryan and I want to make a connection that will be in tact even after Little Krause comes home. We plan to return to Ethiopia over the years as much as financially possible and with the intention to serve.

Yesterday as I was surfing ministry websites I came across a documentary that told the story of the garbage dump of Korah Ethiopia. It’s something you have to see to believe.  Here is some information on Korah from Children’s Hope Chest:

Korah is a community that sits on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia next to the city garbage dump. The population of this once small community of lepers, has swelled to approximately 100,000 people. Many lepers, HIV/AIDS patients, orphans and widows struggle to survive in this community. People in Korah are forced to scavenge from the garbage dump for scraps of food to eat or plastics to sell for small amounts of money. The dump is a dangerous place – children have even been run over by the garbage trucks in their hurry to get to the “freshest” garbage first. Often, children are kept out of school so they can help dig in the dump or because there is no money for education. Sickness and infection run rampant in this community, deepening the problems the children face every day. The name Korah literally means “cursed”. The people in this community are the poorest of the poor and live as outcasts with little hope for change. 

It felt as if time stood still. The world around me faded away and it was just me, reality and God. All I could think was how disturbingly appropriate it was that these people, who are considered outcasts and trash, are living in and surviving on a garbage dump. It ruined me. I wish I could accurately describe the restlessness that began to grow inside of me. In those 15 minutes God lit a passion in me I cannot quench. I have walked around all week distracted and heavy.

I was crying on the phone to my sweet, patient husband, “Why THERE, Ryan?”, “Why can’t God give me a burning for the people of Buda”, “Why am I haunted by their eyes?”, “Why won’t God let me go?” He so matter of factly, and this is why I love him, said, “Because one of them could be our child, Britany.”

The harsh reality of his statement floored me…but made all the sense in the world. Why wouldn’t God break me for the people of Ethiopia? Why wouldn’t He create a longing in me to change their circumstances…my child is there. Did you get that? MY CHILD IS THERE RIGHT NOW. For all we know, Little Krause could be walking the streets of Korah as I type these very words. In the very least, these are his/her people. Ethiopia will be a part of our world forever through the adoption of our child. I’m beginning to make sense of it, God.

If you know me well, you know that I am not one to sit still when God speaks. Now, at first I may drag my feet…moving towards Him but still presenting my argument on why the direction, OVER THERE <-----, might be a better idea. But once I am resolved and surrendered, It’s ON:)

I told Ryan, “We have to go, baby. We have to go over there.” He so calmly shrugged and responded, “Ok, let’s go.” Do you see why God blessed me with this man!? I’ve always said I’m like a balloon floating all over while he securely holds my string. He is grounded and I am not and it’s a beautiful thing<3

I have spent my week emailing different people and organizations working in Korah. I’m sure my emails are a rambling mess, but I’m praying God translates as they read. My girlfriend Karen called me after we had lunch and told me she found what may be exactly the avenue to take. I pray so. I’m just a crazy, event planning, singer mom,  but I have to do something. I have to tell these people they are not cursed, that they are beautiful, loved craftsmanship of the Almighty God. They are not garbage and, most importantly, THEY ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

I can only compare this time to when God started wrestling with me over adoption. It’s a little different as I am not resisting him, only searching for His direction. As He is removing the veil from my eyes a little at a time, it feels as though He is sloooowly peeling away a Band-Aid…from a very hairy arm:)

Maybe He knows to rip it off quickly would only mean a temporary heart change. The pain brief and fleeting. No, I suppose he knows that wouldn’t work with me. It must be a process. Sometimes messy, slow and painful but one that changes me forever.

Apology, Please!

It is no secret that we love the Texas Rangers. My dad raised me on a hearty diet of Steve Buchelle, Jeff Russell, Julio Franco, Nolan Ryan and so many more. On May 1, 1991 we went wild in the stands as Nolan pitched his 7th No-Hitter. His posters plastered my teenaged walls, beating out the Teen Beat pinups of Jared Letto and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Naturally, I fell in love with a baseball player. The night Ryan brought me home from our first date, my dad was sitting on the couch conditioning his glove. Ryan sat down beside him and they struck up an easy conversation. Baseball was his “in” with my dad. It’s something we all have in common, it’s a family affair and has produced a son/grandson who has baseball in his blood.

Now as much as we love TX Rangers Baseball, we love Jesus more. I mean, we are reckless up in this house about our Savior. It’s a rare occasion that you can mix the two, Jesus and baseball. Enter…Josh Hamilton.

Last year Josh rehabbed with Round Rock Express and my dad took Dylan to meet him. Late that night I was awakened by a bouncing 7 year old holding his wrist to my nose. “MOOOMM, LOOK WHAT JOSH HAMILTON GAVE ME!!!” Around his little wrist was a black, “I AM SECOND” bracelet. He was talking 100 miles a minute telling me all about how Josh was wearing the bracelet in the game and gave it to him afterwards. When I asked what they talked about he so casually said, “Jesus”.

Of course I had to Google “I AM SECOND” and see what it was all about. I quickly found Josh Hamilton’s video and wow. He has an amazing testimony, Jesus has redeemed him from a true pit. I won’t spoil it for you, watch it for yourself. You will be blessed. 

If your son is going to have an earthly hero, who better than a player who gives ALL the glory to God? It has been so fun going to the games and hearing “Trust in Jesus” and “Blessing and Honor” as he walks to the plate. His example a great tool when teaching our son sportsmanship and that his talent comes from God alone. When we are explaining adoption and caring for the orphan, we can show him how Josh Hamilton has funded an orphanage in Uganda. Needless to say, we have been very thankful.

NOW, TO THE POINT…(and I will do my best to “Shine for Jesus”)

I am soooo stinkin’ mad right now! SAD and MAD. As I watched, what very well could have been Josh Hamilton’s last games as a TX RANGER, my ears were assaulted with a mass of boos and obscenities coming from the fans. ARE YOU PEOPLE KIDDING ME!? It is not even necessary for me to give the 100,000 reasons this is unacceptable. I won’t even tell you what it did to my son.

When I read his response I was heartbroken to see words like, “it was bad, really bad.”, "Personally, myself, it never would matter how high I was -- if I went to a sporting event, I would never boo somebody or I would never yell obscenities at somebody” and referencing Matthew 10:14, “I think about the bible verse that says if they don’t receive you in a town, then shake the dust off your feet and move on.”

Hey, fair-weathered, TX fans! Is this the way we are going to thank him, possibly say goodbye? 

Josh Hamilton deserves an apology. From every single one of you.

So, Dylan has decided to start a movement, an apology campaign! He wants Josh Hamilton to know what he has meant to him and he wants YOU to do the same! Let’s take pictures and video wearing our Hambone shirts and reliving our best JH moments. Tell him what his example has meant to you and your baseball lovin’ family. Let’s speak on behalf of all the TRUE fans! 

What are you waiting for? Dylan has created the “Please Forgive Us, Josh Hamilton” Facebook page! Let’s blow it up, Hamilton fans! If we must say goodbye, let’s do so with love and not hate! http://www.facebook.com/PleaseForgiveUsJoshHamilton

Dylan’s Letter to Josh

 

Nehemiah, My New BFF

I have the immeasurable honor of leading a morning Bible study for women. As I type this their faces are coming to mind, one by one. I will try my hardest to stay on task but my desire to tell you how much I love and depend on these women wants to take over:)I am crazy about them, and I am crazy about our Wednesday mornings spent in the WORD!

We are currently walking through the book of Nehemiah together. Y’all!!! He is so cool, I want to be JUST LIKE HIM when I grow up! Seriously, don’t take my word for it, open up the Bible and see for yourselves! Better yet, hop on Lifeway and order your own copy of Kelly Minter’s, “Nehemiah, A Heart that can Break”. (You’ll love her too!)

Nehemiah was a Jew who lived a royal life of luxury in Persia and held the high honor of cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. While they were vacationing in Susa, His brother arrived with a group of men from Judah. During their visit, Nehemiah questioned them about Jerusalem and the Jewish remnant (who survived the exile). Sadly, they had to inform Nehemiah that the news was not good. The Jews were in great trouble and disgrace as Jerusalem’s wall had been broken down. When Nehemiah heard this, he sat down and he wept.

Now, let me remind you, he did not live in Jerusalem. He obviously  had family there but he lived in Persia...in a palace. He didn’t have TV or Foxnews.com to keep him up to date on the world around him. He didn’t have a telephone, email, Facebook or Twitter to keep him connected to friends and family. His relationships were nothing like ours today. But still, he wept and he mourned.

This amazed me. We often hear of the suffering of people when we turn on the news or even when we talk to friends. We are made aware of insurmountable need as we scroll through our FB pages. But can you tell me the last time you sat down and wept at the tragedy of others? I came to the sad realization that, regardless of the reasons, we have hardened hearts. Hearts of stone. Not Nehemiah, he had a heart that could break. (I love him!)

No wonder God is moving the hearts of song writers to pen lyrics like: “Break my heart for what breaks yours”, “break my heart ‘til it moves my hands and feet”, “In my own little world it hardly ever rains, I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe. I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet. In my own little world, population: me”. Our God never meant for us to be desensitized, unaffected, Christians. He, is after all, the very creator of social justice.

I’m praying that the church…that I, will rise up and move out. I pray that we will reflect Jesus and love out loud, get our hands dirty, preach the true Gospel to the desperate, offer the scorned woman…Living Water. I pray that we can reflect the very breakable heart of Nehemiah. We have been called to nothing less.

Because I don’t want to spoil it, I won’t tell you the rest. Which, by the way, is SO hard as there is SO much I want to tell! Go, grab your Bible and read it! Read about how the news of suffering spurred him into ACTION! Read how he never moved without prayer, read how he demanded social justice, read how he stood firm in God’s promises, read how he trusted his awesome God every. step. of. the. way. (Seriously, I love this guy!)

I always wanted my mansion in heaven to be next door to Daniel’s. I, now, have every intention of asking God if He could maybe squeeze me in the middle of him and Nehemiah. I still love you, Daniel…but there’s a new kid in town;)

I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands.

Ezekiel 36:26-27, The Message