Month: March 2012

Are you up for a walk?  It’s not far…(well, actually if you are standing by the road in front of their house it’s not far…but if you are still here—then it’s about a 23 hour plane ride and 12 hour time zone away.)

And it is hot.  Right now it’s lunch time in Cambodia.  And it’s very hot—sticky and there is quite a bit of dust in the air from the motorbikes.

So, if you’ve got a bandana or handkerchief, you might want to cover your mouth….otherwise, your throat and lungs will fill with the awful red colored dust and dirt….not so good.

We’re going to Nary’s house with my dear friend Rene`.

Rene` is the sponsor of a young girl from the Ampil School.  She has a quiet nature, but loves fun things.  This was one visit I was especially looking forward to, not having my own sponsored child in Cambodia, this was the next best thing.  Rene` invited us all to take part.  I got to be the photographer, Vanessa was the prayer partner, and Becky was the videographer.

Rene` planned it all out in advance.  She bought gifts for the mom and dad and made a bracelet for Nary.  She had other gifts for her, but the time, effort and thought put into each gift touched our hearts.  It was indeed a holy moment watching the two of them meet.

We were all crying by the time we left.

Vanessa prayed the most anointed prayer over the family, which was interpreted and we all prayed along in our hearts—asking God to draw this family into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, if they were not already His own.

Nary’s mom was so excited to have Rene` there that day.  She had cleaned and brewed a pot of tea, which she set out immediately in her best china tea pot.  I had to slip over to Ly, one of the interpreter’s and let him know quietly that Rene` was taking medication that would make her very sick if she partook of anything other than what her system was accustomed to.  I asked him to please let the family know that we were deeply touched by their generosity, but for Rene`’s health sake, she shouldn’t risk it.  They were okay with that—didn’t seem offended in the least, as a matter of fact, their faces were wreathed in pleased smiles as we took the last photo’s before leaving.

Nary’s mom also brought out the family picture album.  It was the sweetest thing I’d ever seen.  You do that for your relatives who haven’t seen your own children in a long time…to me that was Nary’s mom’s way of letting Rene` know “she was family”.  I even took pictures of her pictures of Nary as a baby and toddler.  She also showed us the whole family.  Nary is the youngest of three.

As we had begun the week singing a song called, “Holy Spirit Rain Down”, it happened that day underneath the tin roof of their open home.  The most precious anointing of the Holy Spirit poured down on us that day—and I am so grateful that Rene` asked us to join her.

One of the neatest things happened when we got back to Ampil School.  Nary saw Rene` in the school yard talking with some of the other children and left her class immediately and ran out to greet her again and hug her neck.  That was so precious to us.  Of course, we were all blubbering in tears again at the love and appreciation of this dear child.

If you would like to play a special part in the growth, maturity, spiritual guidance and health of a child, please contact someone at Mission of Mercy.  Visit their website at www.missionofmercy.org today and make a difference.  For as little as $34 a month, you can become part of a family in another part of the world….and the blessing of doing so will far outweigh anything you think you might miss out on here.

God bless you…and thank you Rene`.  For being such a dear friend—and for having the compassion of Jesus Christ.

© Angie Knight—The Knightly News 2012.  All Rights Reserved.

I’m up.

It’s 2:13 p.m. in the afternoon in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

My body thinks it’s still there.  My mind goes there every day.  The picture I can’t get out of my head is the children busing themselves home from school….in their boats.  Some paddling only a few hundred yards away, some paddling a few miles.
I remember seeing the smiling face of the little boy that at the home visit, we discovered he had a club foot (cleft foot).  He wants to become a nurse…our nurses attended his infected toe.

He smiled on.

These children know no other kind of life than the life of the river.

They live on it.  They sleep on thin grass mats in their homes on the river.  And their body waste goes into it.   As the children were leaving, I saw a little one take her bowl that is used to dish water from the boat to keep it from sinking, she scooped water from the river and drank it.  I shudder.

There are some children who yet need a sponsor.

What does sponsorship do?

Sponsorship through Mission of Mercy provides them a hot meal, clean water (Mission of Mercy has purchased water filters for the homes in the floating village). Sponsorship ensures that each sponsored child gets proper medical and dental care.  They are taught not only to read, write and skills they will need later on, they learn about the love of Jesus Christ and that He gave His life for each one of them…that they are as important to Him as a child living in a palace.

My eyes have been opened to  more of the world than before…I am accountable to those I meet—and to what I know.

When talking and sharing with some last week, it was shared with me the need for teachers.  Teachers of the English language.  In their villages and schools.  I instantly thought of those young adults—unmarried—ready to start their lives outside of the homes of their parents—yet not knowing exactly what God has called them to….what about teaching?

Something that struck me especially hard when visiting the Dream Center, is the lack of proper cooking facility they have.  Each student is required to cook their own meals—from start to finish.  They learn by helping each other.  Those older who know how, teach those younger who cannot.  They learn.
It was said that they need to know how to care for themselves beyond the walls of the school.  They need to be independent.  They don’t need coddling–they need LOVING.

Life is tough…everywhere. Not just here…and not just there.

I thought of America…and what we have turned out kids into.  Dependent—”I can’t do anything for myself” bunch of young people who think the world owes them a living.  When I typed that I instantly thought of those who, reading this would take offense to this post.  Maybe your kids aren’t like that at all….but then, maybe they are.

Could your 12 year old prepare his or her own meal from start to finish—(more than a peanut butter and jelly sandwich), clean up after themselves—and know automatically to finish their homework before play?

Uhm…there are no X-Boxes, no Gameboy’s, no IPad, IPod’s etc.  The kids at The Dream Center are there to learn.  Life skills.  How to survive—to make a living at something.  To be an entrepreneur.  To dream beyond the floating village where they came from…

They have been teaching them to “dream big”.   When we stop dreaming….we stop doing…and when we stop doing…we stop living.

I play a small part in the dreams of a young girl in the Dominican Republic.  Several women who participated in this trip to Cambodia, now play a part in the dreams of Cambodian children—and they have hope.  Would you like to do that?  Would you like to ensure that a child has a chance to keep dreaming—beyond the watery walls of their homes?

Contact Mission of Mercy on their website.  Be a part of a life more than 22 hours away.  Their little faces keep me up at night…its more than jetlag.  It’s the need to pray more.

I had a thought as we were hugging necks and wiping tears for the last time at the Dream Center when we were leaving—Heaven will reveal all that we have accomplished while on this trip.  Things we never even witnessed will be revealed.  The sewing of curtains by ladies in the West Florida District did more than just take up time and space in our lives…it enhanced the lives of over 40 kids and youth.  It showed them that there is beauty in the surrounding world and they could take part in it.

I believe that every day, when they look at their brightly colored walls, they will remember us.  They will remember what our white skin looked like, and out diverse voices sounded like.  Four of us had a REAL Southern drawl.  Imagine that.

As Vanessa, Becky, Rene, and I stood in the room of these girls on the last day, they asked us to sing to them.  We sang again, “Holy Spirit Rain Down”.  He did.

The girls lifted their hands, with eyes closed, tears coursing, and prayers going up to heaven…the Holy Spirit indeed rained down His mighty presence.

Thank You Jesus for the opportunity to share life for a week with such incredible people, as those we met in Cambodia.

By the way, many of the teens pictured come from the floating village….they have a sponsor….they have a hope and dream of a future beyond the muddy waters of the Ton Le Sap.

© Angie Knight-The Knightly News 2012.  All rights reserved.

Join me today at Laced with Grace for more on my trip to Cambodia.  May God shine HIS light into your life in unexpected ways…. 

© The Knightly News 2007-2012

I invite you today, visit Mission of Mercy (www.missionofmercy.org) and make a change in your life and the life of one child.  You may never leave your home to see that child…but for $34 a month–your life can touch their life everyday.  In many ways. 

I can’t wait to tell you more about the trip…but for now, it’s 6:18.  I’ve been up since 1:30 a.m.  My system is not quite back…I’ve written my Laced with Grace post for tomorrow…and will get one ready and up for post for the Internet Cafe`, as well as the Free Newsletter for “Streettalk Magazine”.

Off to work I go!  Dareth and Thida, we are praying for you.  Ly Mak, We are praying for you as well!

To God be the glory! For all the marvelous things HE has done!

Listen to this song: 

This is the song I used for the slide show last night at church….amazing song.

© The Knightly News 2007-2012.  All rights reserved.

On the 6^th plane ride, sandwiched in the middle row—in the middle seat of the middle row—I was leaned forward, elbows on the tray in front of me—head in my hands—crying silently before the LORD…as He reminded me of His position in the middle.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Jesus was the man in the middle. The man suspended between heaven and earth…the man hanging in the middle of two choices. Life or death.

On January 6, 2011 God sent me an invitation to join Him on a journey.

With only a nano-second’s worth of hesitation, I said “Yes”!

This journey would take me to Egypt. I was so excited. I planned it out ahead of time of how it would feel to walk “on” the soil that the Israelites walked from bondage into freedom. I expected God to reveal Himself to me—maybe even through a burning bush. Soon though, the pause button was pressed on that invitation.

For weeks, each night as I lay down, I would question God on that invitation. “Did You ask me to see if I’d say yes? Or did You have a purpose?”

We all know that when we walk with God, He orchestrates every single event in our lives. Nothing comes to us without being filtered or sifted through His hands.

At the end of 2011 the destination changed. It was announced to the team that our mission was Cambodia. Some pulled from the trip. I could not. Something inside me told me this was for me.

In prayer one morning at the kitchen sink, I began to pray over the trip, questioning God about the change. “Why did you offer Egypt, when all along You knew it would be Cambodia?”

His reply, “You wouldn’t have jumped at the chance to go to Cambodia.” He was right.

I have questioned Him about many things over the past many months…He has reminded me over and over, “Trust Me. I have the plan—it’s timed just right”.

If you’ve followed my blogsite you are familiar with what I’ve witnessed. Yet there was so much I’ve saved to share in person at my church.

The heat was one thing you need to keep in mind though…If you turned the a/c off, and you piled in an eight passenger van—oh, say about 20 people, in about 30 minutes of body heat combination, the heat you feel might be close to what we felt. The only difference would be the hot sun beating on your head intensifying it. And the smell—of the non-deodorized armpits….

The heat was unbearable at times—we had sweat pouring and pooling every minute of the day. I fought the enemy every single day as he attacked my mind. Others fought more prior to the trip—and he did try me before the trip—but I’d always grab a song and start singing it in my head. Or a Bible verse.

But the day came, when standing in Cambodia, in the heat of the day—when a song was not coming to my mind. Nor could I grab a verse from a file I had tucked away in my heart. Self was the focus.

I believe for most of us—the thoughts centered around our sweating—overheated—suffering from jet lag—headache shrouded selves.

Instead of the God thoughts—this is what came to me:

“This is just too much. You probably need to let this be your last mission trip; This is too hard. You know it would be easier to stay home and just pray for a team—or even send a few dollars now and then—but you really need to consider not doing this anymore.”

If God had called me to praying and giving—then by doing so I would be completely glorifying Him—but when He called me to going—then I’d be walking in disobedience to choose the other—even though they are both good. We are to give—we are to pray—but He told me to GO as well.

I have to confess—I let the enemy talk a whole paragraph full before I asked God to shut him up….God quickly reminded me that Ephesians 6:12-18 tells me what I should be wearing every day—and how I should fight these mind attacks.

Every day it was a battle. I’d sweat—there was a few times of tension between some—and the enemy was trying us all….

After working in 143 degree weather every day, it was too exhausting to write. Instead, I’d get up between 2 and 3, go to the bathroom and sit and write and post the message/devotion from the previous day. Even while I was a few degrees cooler, the enemy still tried. “You can’t write. There’s no way you can do justice to what you’ve seen—why don’t you do something easier…less stressful.” Again, I recognized the enemy working—trying to use my mind and flesh against me. We need to realize that he uses them together to destroy God’s work—and God’s worker.

As I sat there, I began to cry out to God, hot tears falling, the Holy Spirit descended with a cool washing freshness that came on my weary spirit and calmed my mind. It was going to be okay. I handed Him the pen, and He began to write it on my heart. Each time I felt a pause, I’d seek Him for more. This happened every morning around 3 a.m. I waited….He came.

The day we set out for the floating school was 144. And as long as you weren’t sitting in the back of the boat, next to the smoking –thundering engine, it would be bearable…guess where I sat?

The enemy was trying—but that morning I determined to have such non- stop dialogue with Jesus that the enemy would have no room to squeeze in a word.

As I began to see tarps, tin and strips of bamboo as makeshift roofs held up with limbless tree poles, or bamboo poles, the heaviness in my heart increased.

We had worked around and had fallen in love with the teenagers in the dream center for a couple of days, and now we would see firsthand just where most of them came from.

Mechrey Floating Village VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

You will see in photo’s in the coming days, some sights that will break your heart—but this is part of God’s world that he WANTS us to see. There is beauty tucked in alongside the ugly of life—we have to choose what we focus on.

Seeing with eyes guided by the Holy Spirit will convict and compel you. It will change you. You may even be a bit unbearable to those who refuse to change their lens…which would sharpen their focus. It’s more comfortable to stay in the life of “soft focus”. In photography, soft focus is where you concentrate on one small area and let the surrounding area blur into the background. That’s exactly what many churches of today are doing.

We have so centralized our focus on one area that we’ve forgotten there is a world out there that is hurting—suffering—hungry—naked and needy.

What we’ve done is choose the comfortable things—the jobs of ministry that require very little work—very little alteration to our lens—or our lifestyle.

Matthew 25:41-46  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

NOTICE they called Him LORD. They knew who He was—I believe Jesus was letting those in His audience and us know—that just because we wear the t-shirt bearing HIS name—and pray over our meals—attend services—pay tithes—does not mean that we’ve got it all together and are serving Him with all we have…it means we’re doing what’s expected. The normal.

It’s all good things—yet there is something else He is requiring…

He wants to change your lens—adjust your focus—remove the filter to enable you to see HIS world….all the heart breaking ugly-as well as the beautiful.

It’s our choice—we are on one side of Christ. To the right or to the left. Just as the two thieves. We are mentally making a decision—our actions reflect that decision made.

We can keep right on doing the few things we are doing with about as much passion as a pencil eraser—or we can put a “for sale” sign in our yard and sell out to God. (Don’t leave here and say I told you to sell your house)

If God told you to sell what you have and meet Me in Cambodia—or Africa—or Bolivia—or the back woods of Northwest Florida…we must be willing—or we will miss out on more than just an opportunity to be used of HIM.  We may perhaps miss out on the grandest view of all.

Friends, the Lord reminded me again, we cannot afford to miss an opportunity to see His world…be His hands…in caring for those around us. We must open our hearts..change our focus—remove self from the equation.

Deliver HIS MESSAGE to the WORLD.

To find out how YOU can help ONE CHILD- with as little as $34 a month, visit Mission of Mercy’s website.   www.missionofmercy.org

I promise…it will change your life…if you will change your focus.

© Angie Knight—The Knightly News 2012.  All rights reserved.

When the day began, we knew our emotions would be heavily involved….more so than any other day for me.  For some, their home visit was the most emotional day—Rene’s home visit will come in a later post as I need time to assimilate all I saw and heard.

Today, I will take you back to yesterday.  Remember, there’s nothing we can change from yesterday—but we can make a difference in our tomorrow by seeing with clear vision (beyond ourselves)—and taking on the challenge of changing things for someone’s future.

Yesterday was warm…I laughed quietly to myself at that—because I had read on someone’s facebook page from home that it was “hot”.  Girl, let me tell you…you don’t know hot…and I didn’t either until I came here.  So, buck up—wear looser clothing, get comfortable.  This will be a long day.

We began with breakfast—and I know, this has been so unlike other mission trips I’ve posted.  We posted the food in Honduras, I posted Jeff’s food from Peru just a few months past my return, then we posted every morsel I think, when we went to Bolivia.  I’ve not shown you much food…reason? Well, it’s really too hot to eat—even though we’ve eaten…and my mind has not been on the food, even though I’ve enjoyed what I ate—it’s been on the people.

Our last work day at The Dream Center began with us hearing the testimony of Dareth’s wife, Thida (another day for that one too).  I’ve never been more amazed at the hand of God than when I sat before this couple and heard all that God worked in their lives—and you need to know—there are things that God does in YOUR life that you have not a clue about.  Things He delivers you and I  FROM –and that we may never know this side of living.  Yet it happens.  Daily.

We toured the upstairs class rooms of the school—they were pretty much what I expected after working in the dorm rooms and being in the chapel.  Neat-Clean-Simple.

The Dream Center was built by a professional baseball player just over a year ago.  The land was purchased and the buildings I have shown you were all constructed for just over $500,000. (I think I remembered that figure correctly.)  That is pretty amazing—

As soon as the tour was complete, we quickly began completing our work—in the short time we had until they left for school. A team set out to hang the curtains (Rene and Becky’s assignment), finish the painting (that was Vanessa’s and my assignment), and a group played basket ball and volley ball with the boys, while a group of women did manicures and washed the feet of the girls.  I don’t have pictures of any of the activities because I was busy sweating painting, but my friend, Lois Solet, professional photographer went around gathering all the memories in her camera for each of us to take home! What a blessing!

Rene grabbed some shots of the curtain details.  I have to say a HUGE thank you to the women of the West Florida District, who came out on a Saturday—some driving for 2 hours, lugging sewing machines, irons, and necessities to complete the project assignment our team was given.  (I am humbled and thankful for all the help we received.)  Two of our churches took fabric back to their church and had the women’s sewing group work on them (Refuge AG and Heritage AG).  Refuge AG, Sister Betty Richardson, and Cindy Pettis monogramed the curtains so that we could leave behind a bit of us on the last day.

The Curtains! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

After we completed the work, revealing time was here! We were all so excited—I was mentally challenging myself to hold it together.  I remembered the morning the ladies assembled to sew and we all began to pray—as each individual prayed over their work back at home, the product of that work had traveled around the world completing a seam in the fabric of His love for us as each (proverbs) woman gives of herself.  The two fabrics of lives had finally come together—and soon the picture would be complete.

We gathered in the rooms in as small a group as possible (as much as 36 women can), so as not to overwhelm them…and in they came.  Hands in the air, covering their faces, smiling with joy, us trying to fight tears, then finally giving up…let them course down our dirty, sweaty faces.  Let them see our love in liquid form—as we envision HIS love in bright red liquid form as it pooled at the foot of the cross.

		Reveal Day VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

(Click on view slide show)

These girls had made their way into our hearts—and us theirs.  Beautiful, plush bears had been supplied for every girl.  Ribbons of bright matching colors were added, and blankets along with a gift bag of necessities and treats were put on each bed.

		Girls Rooms VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

		Boys Rooms VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

There are still some needs.  There are a couple of girls who do not yet have a bed.  They sleep on the floor.  There are a few who don’t have a mattress (the thin mat)—we had taken up money for use at the center, hopefully, this bed situation will be corrected soon.

There are things that I saw that maybe no one else saw.  Things that others may have witnessed that I missed….we each have memories from this day—some I’m not ready to share…it will come though.  Much of this will be shared in person—maybe one person at a time, or maybe in a group—but know this:  they have left their mark on us with indelible ink…

A few last shots before we set out today—on our last visit with Cambodia.  We leave tonight for home—but our team won’t arrive until Saturday afternoon. 

Can You See

His

Heart?

		What Dreams Are Made Of VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

© Angie Knight-The Knightly News 2012

All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.  2 Samuel 14:14 NLT

Yesterday, you and I can’t have back.  No do-overs.

We don’t live in the movie set of “Groundhog Day”….we can’t work at it until we get it right—treating people as if they don’t exist.  Just because we don’t see people everyday who live on the other side of the world, certainly does not mean they don’t exist. 

Ly Mak (pronounced, Lee Maah), an incredible man with a heart for Jesus Christ and his people, has shared something of their culture with me everyday.  “The greatest thing you can do for another is “show them how”. 

Ly’s words strike at the heart of all cultures.  As we constantly “give” to our own children, they constantly “expect”.   And many times, they turn from what we give, to what the world gives—but the world gives death.  Nothing.  Only Christ Jesus gives life everlasting…water from the purist Source.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”  John 4:13-14 NLT

These children were washing their pots.  This was something they had been taught to do—by demonstration.  They learned how to pump the water from someone who was familiar with the water pump, teaching them.  

Ampil School in Cambodia is a school sponsored by Mission of Mercy, but operated by the government.  Mission of Mercy is able to have chapel with the children once a week…it’s a way of watering once a week.

Let me ask you…are you watering?  As your life is daily spilling out like water, are you watering anyone with the Word?  With a heart of love for others—as Jesus’ example and very words instructed…

Matthew 18:14 says, “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish”. 

Question:  Are you a follower of Christ?  Do you live your life seeking to do HIS will everyday?  This verse is our reason for doing what we do….it is our Father’s will do teach them—“show” them as Ly reminded me.  Not only how to live and function daily, but how to know Christ.  Mission of Mercy takes this responsibility to  heart—they show—they teach.  If we do not teach—they perish.  They perish of lack of knowledge.  The water is spilled out on the ground daily and never comes back—and never nourishes anyone.  When this happens, we have failed to do the will of the Father.  Obedience doesn’t happen by accident. 

There are faces you pass everyday in Walmart—on the street—in restaurants—maybe in your own home—they need love.  They need teaching.  They need showing and teaching by example. 

Where are you watering?  Is your life spilling out uncontrollably before you in days never to be regained?   My heart breaks at the sight of all these children— knowing what they come from and what kind of existence they go back into when they leave this school—with it’s nice buildings. 

I’ve heard horror stories of parents who sell their children to a stranger—at the “promise” of an education or better life, for as little as $50, only to have their child sold into sex slavery.  It happens to children everyday.  All over the world. 

The seeds must be sown into their lives now—watered daily by the Word.  LOVE must be poured out—it will not happen by accident.  It will be our own sacrifice and determination that sees the job done.  You know, when we get to heaven, we won’t be asked, “How much did you make?”  But rather— “What did you do with what I gave you”…(remember the parable of the talents?)

What are you doing with what you have? 

This post probably seemed hard to read.  I won’t apologize.  Let me just tell you—seeing what I’ve seen has been HARD to see.  If I were in front of you, I’d probably lean forward and say that with a passion that made my eyes brim with tears as they’ve done everyday since arriving.  Once you’ve seen you are responsible (reading is seeing).  I am responsible to the child we sponsor.  She doesn’t live here—but she does live.  And I must water. 

Some of you, since reading that last statement, may never come back to this blog—because you are not sure you want to be responsible…or, maybe you know you don’t want to be responsible.  But—since God’s Word “says” it already—YOU ALREADY WERE RESPONSIBLE.  I simply showed you the pictures to make it alive in your part of the world.

If you’ve been following this blog, some of the pictures are smaller than others for fitting in the paragraphs.  Go back and click on each picture.  It will enlarge it and “bring it to life”.

Thank you for praying…today (it’s Thursday here), we will go back to The Dream Center to finish the painting, hang the curtains (THANK YOU ladies of the West Florida District A/G!), play with the kids, share tons of love, shed many tears and feel the Holy Spirit—Rain Down. (That’s another blog—as are my home visit’s from yesterday.  There is only so much Kleenex in Walmart-and I encourage you—get a few boxes.)

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures.  Remember to click on the words “view slide show”.  You don’t have to download them all to your computer—unless you want to print a reminder…

		Ampil School VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

© Angie Knight—The Knightly News 2012.

She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.  Proverbs 31:20 NLT

The most talked about woman in the Old Testament I think, is the Proverbs 31 woman.  There are groups named after her, websites bearing her name, and women all over long to be characterized as that “proverbs woman”.

I’ve found a common thread in what makes her the way she is.  I purposefully used present tense in that statement, because the “proverbs woman” exists today. 

The common thread is that she is constantly looking outside herself at the needs of others.  She works hard because of the needs of her family and she speaks wise because of the needs of those around her.

“…extends a helping hand to the poor…”

I’ve seen poor in America…we have a “system” called welfare that we depend on to do the job…and look how it has affected our people.

Lazy.  Waiting for someone else to do the job.  “Feed me, cloth me, shelter me”—the system cries. 

Rarely do we look the needs in the eye….but on Tuesday, I saw the needs in the eyes of many.  It was not only the need to be fed, clothed, or even educated, but the greater need was the need to be loved.  And when we truly “love” beyond ourselves, the other needs are met.  Why?  Because we love.

Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard.  Proverbs 21:13 NKJV

Open ears, open hearts, and open eyes will share and show love.  This is the thing I have discovered since last night. I didn’t see one out begging yesterday.  They are all working for what they ate.  They ate very little—but they worked to provide. 

To see the needs of others, we must be looking.  We can choose to sit in our easy chair—or be seeking ways to help another.  (Don’t think for a second I’m saying you can’t sit in your chair and relax—for Jesus set the example of resting—BUT—He went about daily meeting the needs of others.) The choice is ours—close off our hearts—or open them wide.  When we open our hearts to love as Jesus loved—there is no stopping the power of God in our lives as we walk in His ways and speak His Truth.

Before you look at these pictures and tell me what you think—let me remind you that you cannot smell this picture, nor can you hear the sounds.  Those two vital parts of our senses bring the picture to life.  Take my word for it…

We left early yesterday morning, set out on a mission to minister.  To play with children, teach them songs, and share the love of Jesus. We passed out treats, school supplies, blankets and  toys.  You may question why a blanket in this heat.  They are so accustomed to this weather that when it turns cooler, they are truly cold. 

We traveled the muddy waters (which is way more than mud) for about 30 minutes to the Mechrey Floating School which is the village school operated and supported by Mission of Mercy.

Ride with me while I take you back down the river….

Grab a seat, keep your hands inside the boat—don’t trail them in the water—

We were in two boats, with the supplies packed on top—now for the full effect of your ride, stand near a car exhaust that is a “smoker with an oil problem”.  Stand REAL close.  Like maybe put your face in a position to be bathed in the smoke….oh, almost forgot,  make sure the muffler has a hole in it—and turn up the volume.

Okay.  I think you might get the picture.  –Wait, one more thing, turn up the heat.  Enough to make your sweat pool and run…everywhere.

If the love of Christ is overruling the flesh…your face will be wreathed in smiles like Jamie’s was as the anticipation built for the children she had come half way around the world to meet.

We were a group of 36 American women, a sight to behold on the rough clay banks of the river that morning.  We had several pair of eyes staring at the spectacle of us climbing into the boats, settling and resettling ourselves into the seats.  Many came for a closer look at these “strange birds” here in their land.

We gave candy to the children who came to inspect these women on a mission.  We all know  children love candy—especially some that they’ve never seen before.  The bright colored wrappers of the lollipops made them hold out their hands in anticipation of what was inside.

Finally turned around in the right direction, we’re off!

I won’t post all the pictures here (the visit to the school alone resulted in 678 pictures)—nor will I tell all here today—I’m still wrapping my mind around what I saw.  But a few pictures I want to share that I think will tell the story without very many words.

A special thank you to those who prayed yesterday…God is as awesome –ON TIME—God—EVERY  TIME.   Nothing escapes HIS vision.  Nothing is beyond His knowledge.  Before we set out yesterday—the day was in His calendar.  The choice is ours to see with His eyes, or refuse to see—and harden our hearts to the plight of so many.  When we see with His eyes—we see with love.  And that love of Christ sets out to make a difference in the world….one child at a time.

The Floating School VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

How can you make a difference?  Open your eyes and see the needs around you.  Seek God about sponsoring a child.  I am showing you the needs here—but there are needs all over the world.  Even out  your own back door.  But you have to look.

Visit Mission of Mercy and see all the ways you could help make a difference.  You can’t take on the world…but you can help one child.  Maybe more.  We waste far more than $34 a month on trivial things…what if that same $34 went to educate, feed and administer medical and dental care to a child who without you, would not learn, or be taken care of.  I’m not sure what the average life span in the village is, but it can’t be very old.  (Not when they drink the same water that their waste has emptied into.)  Mission of Mercy works to meet the critical needs of the children.  They also work hand in hand with Convoy of Hope in times of crisis.

My question to us all today:  What are we going to do with what we have?  Candy stated it very well on Sunday, “They do so much with so little, yet we do so little with so much”.

© Angie Knight—The Knightly News 2012.

I didn’t have one drop of energy to blog last night…so sorry if you were waiting on pictures!

There are several artists in the group!  They have enjoyed bringing cheer and color to the girls rooms!

Okay, NEAT thing—Shauna Wigington, the young lady who preached for us on Sunday is the granddaughter (along with her sister, Luanna in the back of the room here) of one of our former pastor’s, Reverend Henry Barfield!  Bro. Barfield was my pastor when I was a teenager!  This was a sweet surprise!  God knew all those years ago when I used to see Shauna when she would visit her grandparents that one day…she and I would be in Cambodia on a mission together…

While we rested yesterday from the heat and painting project, we were joined by a group of precious girls….and we sang with them…it was incredibly sweet. 

I just wish they wore name tags like we do so we could remember their names!  The one on my right was their worship leader Sunday—awesome heart for God.

We will actually see where she came from today (it’s 5:00 a.m. here)

I will post more pictures and update you more—for all those following along that have family/friends here…pray as you sleep tonight! 

They cook…they eat VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

© Angie Knight—The Knightly News 2012