Success

What is success?

How do you measure the success of an event? Is it by the number of those in attendance? Is it by the food and amenities? Is it by the organizational flow without major glitches?

I don’t know how you measure success but I can boldly say that I have been honored to be a part of what I feel were two huge successes.

On November 7th the first HIV/AIDS Talk; AIDS and the Gospel Conference was a huge success. I don’t have any huge numbers or ground breaking news to report but I can say that when you hear the stories of people whose lives have been, and are being, personally impacted by the HIV/AIDS you can’t walk away untouched. I don’t think hearing these speakers was just to feed my own passion, I trust that God called EACH and every person that was there there for a purpose.

It was quite an emotional day for me. I feel it an incredible testimony to have been part of such an event. It all came together with three willing hearts. Three individuals who wanted to “do” something...prayed. That's what we did. The Lord introduced me to Hannah within the first weeks of my being in Minnesota. Soon Peter joined us and we started praying. Each week we met we all had new updates as to leadings that just seemed to be “happening.” I can’t even explain how I ended up in Sheila’s apartment one day who then introduced us to Monica (an MD from Sudan). I have no idea how we were able to get Caroline and her family (from Project Hopeful in Chicago www.projecthopeful.com) to join us. These where the powerful speakers that poured out their experiences and hearts.
All I can say was God put this together and it was an honor to be a part of. I was touched and I believe others were to. It was exciting to hear a day of people with similar passions in their hearts- a passion placed in our hearts by God.

I believe this was a success.

But how do you measure success when it relates to matters of the heart?

This was a success.

I am sure.


AND THEN…

On November 12th my heart was overjoyed to have George here from South Africa. AGAIN, I was honored to have the day to hear George speak, twice. I was challenged with my experiences “behind” me as to what I will continue to do with what I have seen and heard. George challenged that we, as the North American church, need to come to the point in our own “world” that we are willing to draw a line and say “this is enough! As long as I eat, they’ll eat (children in Africa).” This is so real to me but so confusing when I'm here in the middle of America.

I almost had to pinch myself when I looked around and saw George speaking with my friends, aunt and uncle, cousins and parents. I never truly imagined that George, the heart behind Hands at Work, would ever be riding in my car. I was blessed.

So, here again- no big headline news, no earthshattering changes, no monsterous donations (that I'm aware of)- or were there? Perhaps there were and I don’t know. My North American mind wants a meter to measure success but I guess it’s all different when your doing Kingdom work.

How do we measure success?

I believe these were both huge successes! I guess I don't need to see success- I can feel it.

Thank you Lord for allowing me to be a part of these events.

Please Join Us

You are invited…

To hear George Snyman, founder of Hands at Work in Africa.

George will be in Minneapolis, from South Africa, for one day speaking and sharing his heart and the heart of Hands at Work .

WHEN : 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12

WHERE: Vision of Glory Lutheran Church ://www.vogchurch.com/ 13200 State Highway 55, Plymouth, MN 55441

WHO: Anyone interested in hearing about God’s heart and how God is working in Africa. Come hear how you can be involved with Hands at Work.
Refreshments and fellowship to follow.

Here is a word from George:

With 180 000 new orphans every month in Sub-Sahara Africa the Church in large must ask the question, "What does the Bible say about this to us? What does it mean to my congregation who lives in a global village? How can this bring new spiritual life, meaning and context to us as Christians in North America?" As desperate as the African Church is for physical support from North America to help this orphan generation, the North American Church is equally desperate to get involved in something that will bring spiritual insight, life and purpose to them. There has been only a few opportunities in history where the world was looking at the Church and said, "Only you can solve this problem!" The AIDS pandemic in Africa is such an opportunity. It is a window to display the heart of the Father and the compassion of Christ on centre stage. It is also an opportunity for us to bring compassion in action right back into our Churches. Christianity is something that must be lived - sacrificial living brings life! That is the very core of our Good News! The big challenge Church leaders face is how to get involved. Hands at Work is an African organization with strong relationships with Churches in many countries in Africa. Our passion is to mobilise these Churches in the poorest areas with the least resources to support the orphans, widows and dying and to care for them holistically. In doing this we invite the Church outside Africa to partner with us in this.

Read more about Hands at Work at
http://www.handsatwork.org/

Please come, hear more and bring your friends!!!

Contact Dara Hillstrom if you have any questions: 480-272-2742 or darajean15@hotmail.com