Childhood Memories, faith, Family

Happy Birthday Mother!

I think–probably 90% of the kids believe they have the “best” mother in the world…and I am one of that percentage.  We believe it pretty strong…we are certain.

I read something from a book a couple weeks ago–about a conversation that perhaps “God” may have had.  He hand picked some kids.  Some that had special needs…and chose the parents according to the gifts that He put inside them.  Their strength.  Their passion.  Their love.  I believe God hand picked my mother and chose “us” to be blessed by her strength–her passion and her deep love.  Her love for God is what has made each one of us who we are today.

When life handed her hard times, I won’t say she didn’t flinch–because as a mother and grandmother myself, I know that flinching often takes place–but we don’t turn away from what’s in front of us….she stepped up to the plate in the ballgame of life and took her best swing.  And hit the ball smack-dab in the middle.

When money was tight, cupboards were skimpy, love was not.  No one rode in on a white horse and rescued her–but she knew that her faith in God was firm, solid and secure–and He (God) never failed to supply our needs.

I think today about what kids are subjected to–what they are allowed to do–and how they respond to life and I can’t help but wonder what it would be like for some of them if they grew up in our house.

Laundry every.single.Saturday taught us all responsibility.  You wear it–you wash it.  You wash it–you fold it and put it away.  Not next week.  Not in a minute when you finish that game–but now.  (When I was growing up, there were no games, only books.)  We won’t even get started on the things different today versus how we grew up….you don’t have enough time to read all that!

I have been doing some internal reflecting–and I see where some of mine and Aimee’s “thinking” comes from.  It comes from our mother and the foundation she laid early in our lives.  Even when things were so hard and I saw tears in her eyes–I saw a strong resolve that no one in our house would ever feel the rejection that happens all too often.  Her heart is always ready with generous portions of love, prayers, and the Truth that holds her foundation secure.  And if you stop by, chances are, you will get a sack full of produce from her garden if there is something in season…even if it’s just garlic. 🙂


Mother, I pray that your birthday–even though your children are not gathered there today–is filled with love and knowledge that you have blessed the lives of 4 children that were gifts from God–and you did everything He assigned you –above and beyond your ability–because HE blessed you with ability beyond your imagination!  We love you so much!  I am grateful beyond words to call you “Mother”.
Thank you for standing with me and Jeff in our journey to the mission field…thank you for praying for us diligently and for you and Grandbuddy “sending” us.  It is my greatest blessing to be your daughter.  I love you– Happy Birthday.

© 2016 Angie Knight- The Knightly News. All rights reserved.

Ministry, Missions

How To Get From Here to There

How to get from here to there-
flying would be the way I’d go
but how exhausting, just so you know. 
How to get from here to there-
friends can help lead the way
and just how, they ask, will we stay? 
How to get from here to there-
help is needed, I’m sure you’ll agree
God will direct hearts, we shall soon see.

The task ahead has loomed –mostly after the initial day of “excitement” that came with the news of our approval as missionaries to Bolivia!  

Can I just share my heart a minute?  I haven’t done that in a while–and pardon the tears–for they just seem to happen when I mentally see those little faces-it’s hard to explain.

If you could experience the anguish of the wait–the internal examination of  your life since you first became aware that you were “you”…like we have the past 11 months or so, since we first said “yes” to a God who sees all and knows every detail….

See, before the national office ever began asking their questions, the old enemy started his:

“who do you think you are?  Are you kidding?  At your age?  What ability do you think  you have?  Seriously?”  Over and over and over.  

Of course, then came the paperwork.  We won’t even go there–because there is possibly a  “soon-to-be” called missionary reading this and I certainly don’t want to scare  you away–trust me–if God has called you–there is NO other life choice for you.  Paperwork-schmaperwork.  Just do it.

If you could know the feelings that I get preparing for each trip- when the donations begin coming in for school supplies for those kids who will never have a chance at a brand new box of crayons without your help.  Or those little girls who we took dresses to this year–they would have never had the opportunity to have their very own “first time” brand new dress–without your help (East Side Baptist Church-Vernon, FL)–and it honestly leaves me speechless.  And to see the look in the mama’s eyes putting it on  her little girl…oh friend, if you could know. You were here…but those dresses worked “there”.

If you could know what it feels like to hug the body of a little girl who has never ran  or played like other girls, who gets made fun of because she had an old walker that had been sawed-off to suit her short build, but was still too wide.  If you could see the tears fall hot and fast from her older sisters eyes when we walk in their yard with a brand new child-sized walker with wheels and a seat, and they realized someone saw a need and had compassion.  They may not know the word–but they know the feeling.  And some friends from “here” went “there” by helping buy that walker.

If you could walk into the tiniest one-room-home of a little 13 year old girl and see her little baby–and her own baby doll still in the same one room dwelling and know that her life will never return to playing with dolls because now she has one of her own…and she has to be responsible….

If you could board that airplane coming back home and feel that tug in your heart that you are not finished with what you are supposed to do….if you could dream the dreams that I have had for the past 3 years and see the haunting and desperate faces of those who have not been introduced to Christ yet, and wake with a sweat and urgency that the job must be done quickly–for we are running out of time–and you would feel that to stand before a congregation is a fearsome thing to do because your greatest fear is that just may not “get-it” like it has grabbed your soul for the past 4 years of your life.

But…if by chance…it did grab you, and  you actually did experience all that I have for the past year to get prepared for what the “next phase” of your life is, you would be like me– taking apart every piece of your life to accommodate the journey ahead.  Just when I think I’ve pared down enough, I feel a nudge from my heavenly Father…“more, Angie.  Remove more.”

If you click on this link, it will take you to our page with AGWM.  From there you can choose to journey and partner with us.  You will not be required to leave your home, but you can invest in our journey and join us for the ride of a lifetime.  I have created this little guide below, but  really, you can choose whatever dollar amount will fit your budget.  Once we get to the field, we will be there for two years.  We hope that everyone who starts out this journey, will finish it well with us!  You can even just give a one time donation–which it is all tax deductible and you will be mailed a receipt each time you contribute.

I remember the first 4 missionaries we began supporting.  One of them I had never met.  But I strongly felt God lead me to begin supporting them.  We added more to our list over the course of the next couple of years and still support them all today.  We can’t go to the countries they are in, some are in very sensitive countries, but by giving each month–we are joining them by helping them stay on the field.

Jeff and I have quite a way to go to get there–and we are hoping to get there soon.  Would you like to join us?  There is also a place to sign up to become prayer partners on our page and we hope that everyone will do that.  We really need prayer support.  I learned that in such a major way while we were there in October.  And please pray as we are calling and emailing pastors–we need open doors, ten minute windows, 5 minute windows–whatever is available we will gratefully accept.  God will do the rest.

We humbly thank you–with all that is within us–for the help you are able to give.   If you have any fundraising ideas–please contact either one of us on Facebook or by email–we will be grateful for anything! 🙂

May God bless you for your sacrifice and love toward us and what He is doing in our lives.

http://www.tinyurl.com/sendjeffandangie/

© 2016 Angie Knight- The Knightly News. All rights reserved.