Perspective on Problems

HABAKKUK STORIES -  A PERSONAL LIST OF COMPLAINTS AND PRAISES

  by Hollye Conway

Recently, I finished a Bible study with some friends. One of the final things we did was to write our personal “Habakkuk list” from Habakkuk chapter 3, verse 17 & 18. I must admit I enjoyed the pity party! Here was mine:

~ though we have not had water in our taps for a week
~ though my dryer, car, stove burner are out of order
~ though my contact lenses did not come in on time
~ though the neighbor'S 18 dogs in the kennels are driving me insane
~ though my injured ankle is slow to heal
~ though I can’t be with my mom for her upcoming surgery
~ though I am missing important events in Andrew’s life across the ocean.
~ though too many people I love are experiencing deep pain
~ though so many we love refuse to accept Your salvation
~ yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior

The following day, Larry and I were at the Made in the Streets program at Eastleigh and my coworkers who usually lead the girls' program were unable to be with us. I had not come prepared with a lesson, but with the Habakkuk list fresh on my mind, we studied Habakkuk and then I asked the girls to write their own list. I told them the list was between them and God and they would not have to share it. Janet (16 years old) was the first to finish her list and asked me to read it and keep it. Here is Janet’s list:

~ even though my brothers and sisters and I do not have school fees to attend school
~ even though my mother has not paid rent
~ even though there is hunger in our home and sometimes we go to bed without dinner
~ even though my father has abandoned us
~ even though my grandmother died last week
~ even though my brother is sick
~ even though we beg for rent, food and medicine
~ even though all this, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior

Perspective is such an interesting thing. I felt ashamed of most the items on my list. May we realize that we are more fortunate than we imagined and deserve.

Please continue to pray for Larry and me as we attempt to connect the people we work with with the One who can absorb their pain with His love and that we can be channels of the Holy Spirit's love, grace and encouragement every day. Thank you. Hollye

This is Janet!

Eastleigh Streets

The core work of Made in the Streets is done on the streets where street children and street youth sleep.  Team members are there every day to meet new kids, to evangelize older youth and to find young teenagers who are good candidates for our boarding programs.  

They often find older youth sleeping or adrift on drugs at the bases.  When they find sober youth, they teach Bible lessons and 

give testimony about God's love and power in their own lives.  

Often the bases are up against a wall of an apartment building, and sometimes 25

 to 30 of varying ages will sleep there -- from 7 years old up to 25 years old, a

nd some of them will have babies or toddlers.  In this picture Kennedy Ouma has been teaching Bible and conti

nues to share with the young people; Anthony sits nearby - he usually gives a testimony of honor to God for His work in Anthony's life.  

Anthony prays for a young man who wants to make a commitment.  He has asked for help and for prayers that he can stop using glue and other drugs.  He wants to have a fresh start and be able to learn a skill so that he can leave the streets.  As long as he stays on the drugs, he will be stuck on the streets. 

Thanks to Larry Conway for these pictures, taken on this week's visits to various bases in Eastleigh.