Father's...

Tomorrow is Fathers Day. Some of us may give deep thought about this special day, some may see it as just another day to celebrate and another gift to buy. However for me, this year, I have been challenged into deeper thought of this special day and what it means to me to celebrate Father's Day. 

For years it was just my mom and I. Because my dad was not around frequently, my mom filled the role of mother and father. At some point I made her Father's Day cards, because I had no one else to give them too and she was both to me. I resolved that to be okay. It wasn't. My daddy was important to me and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't fill that role. 

Roger came into my life, when I was eleven.  my bio dad started to come more frequently also. They both did their very best to love me and raise me. In many ways I am the woman I am today because of my dads. I love them dearly and wouldn't change a thing or trade them for the world. I miss my daddy Richard, beyond words. He was a kind, tender hearted man. He loved hunting, fishing and the great out doors. He loved me. He always told me so. He called me Monkey, that was my special name. Roger taught me so much and still does. He taught me how to be witty, laugh and to care for the people around me. He is my dad just like Richard was and is invaluable in my life. 

Today I want to share about 2 other men in my life that taught me about true Fatherly love. (Scroll down)

Roger my loving father who raised me from 11years old and on. 

Richard, my loving dad who gave me life, with Jesus now. 

Bryan, the love of my life who showed how a daddy should love. 

When children are young, if they have parents that they care for and respect, they want to be just like their daddy's. I remember my dad and how I tried to be brave and strong like him. I tried to mimic him and what he did. I was my dads shadow as a young child. He was a promise of safety, a rock. 

Some times things go wrong and we do not have the healthy foundations of what a father could bring to a child's life. We are left broken and scared. 

Our Heavenly Father wants to show us what perfect love from a Father looks like. How he can love unconditionally and without blemish. He wants to teach us, guide us and make us more and more like him. He wants to teach boys how to be great, remarkable daddy's like He is. 

In the same way we mimic our earthly father's sometimes good and even sometimes bad. Our Heavenly Father wants us and dads to mimic Him. Always good, alway loving, always teaching, always guiding, always honoring. He wants daddy's to make a difference in their children's lives. Our Heavenly Father is even a "Father to the Fartherless." 

This brings me to the other man in my life who has demonstrated such love to me. My husband, Bryan. Of course he is not perfect as Jesus is, but he strives to be. He has had great representation in his earthly father, and loves His Heavenly Father. Therefore he wants to mimic exactly what he has learned. 

Today I honor the Father's in my life. I honor my Heavenly Father, my two earthly fathers, and I honor my husband who has shown me in the physical sense what a father should really look like. 

 Bryan Thiele, I can say from the bottom of my heart you have taught me more than any other human, what a Godly, loving father should look like. You have taken the initiative to 

follow your Heavenly Father and to be holy as He is holy. What is more, you have followed in His footsteps and are a father to the fatherless. There is no man on earth I have more respect for, more love or more gratitude for, than you. I pray our boys and girls follow closely in their fathers and Fathers footsteps. I love you.

For all the Fathers in my life, I am truly grateful. 

Happy Father's Day! 

Martina's Joy...

This is a story of Joy! A story of Gods love for one lady and her family. This story of joy, has come with its share of tragedy, and sorrow. This story is the epitome of Psalm 30:5 ...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

If this story compels you and you want to be a part of Martina's joy, please visit Remember The Poor  where you can make a donation to this wonderful cause. 

(please scroll down to bottom of page and pause the playlist before watching the video) 

Transformation in Kochgoma- Part 2 of 2

Lawrence Ogwal, age 12, loves animals and wants to be a veterinary doctor. His parents are too poor to pay for schooling.


Peter Ogwang is age 14. He stopped in 5th grade, unable to afford to continue. He is currently digging to support some of his 8 siblings.

You may have heard Experito mention in the video yesterday the long-range vision for Kochgoma: a complete school kindergarten through high school. We have been praying about and for this school for several years. The nursery school/kindergarten built a couple of years ago is the beginning of this project.

* Nearly 1000 children in Kochgoma are not attending school…because there is not one within a reasonable distance to attend. Most are hungry or sick. And all are affected by the 20+ year war.

* The dream we share with Experito is that all 1000 children could not only attend school and be educated about health care and learn how to provide for themselves, but also be trained in Worldwide Perspectives/Pathways during their high school years.

* We pray, trust and hope that this school would become a launching pad for sending well-trained students to take the gospel into the un-reached areas of northern Africa (which is in the 10/40 window).

Lawrence and Peter are two of the 1000 children living in Kochgoma who are currently not attending school.

The estimated cost of building the school (including planting food, providing school uniforms and shoes for everyone, building latrines and showers, and providing dormitories to students who are too far to safely walk) is $1,100,000 or about $1100 per student.

One-time “Sponsorship”

You can sponsor 1 child… or 2 or 5 or 10…or more By sponsoring a child, you will be contributing to the cost of building the school and providing the children with uniforms and shoes and other schooling needs. The sponsorship amount of $1100 per child can be given all at once or over the period of a year.

RADICAL Challenge

The Church at Brook Hills, where David Platt pastors, took one year to join forces and take the RADICAL challenge. The challenge is–for a period of one year– to make a plan to forego our comforts to meet the needs of the world around us. The goal is to spend as little as possible and give as much as possible.

Remember the Poor is planning to provide funding for Martina’s home ($30,000), and funding for the school for 1000 children in Kochgoma ($1,100,000). All 15 of Martina’s children are included in the 1000 who need sponsorship. 100% of your donations will go directly toward these projects.

If you, your family, your small group or your church will be joining Remember the Poor for a RADICAL challenge during 2013, would, you let us know by leaving a comment or sending an email? We’d love it if you would share your ideas on what you plan to do to to cut back on comforts to make more available to give. We’ll compile ideas and share them in a later blog post.

As I was writing this, I was reminded of Paul’s encouragement to the church at Philippi. They had been giving to meet Paul’s needs, to “share in his troubles.” He reminded them:“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” As we give, we can do so with confidence that God will meet our every need.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:20

Transformation in Kochgoma- Part 1 of 2...

Bryan and I count this man, Pastor Experito, and his family, among our dearest of friends. Immense thanks to Pastor Jonathan Celoria of Palm Vista Church for putting this video together. The children you see in this video are sitting outside the kindergarten school in Kochgoma, the structure funded by RTP donors.