merry christmas, happy new year

Feeling very grateful for this time and these people.

Very Merry Christmas

Best Wishes for many blessings in 2016!

Much love to you!

my Christmas wish for you

If I could have one Christmas wish this year, if I could sit with anyone and look deeply in their longing eyes, I'd wish for them to be uncomfortable. Yes, to live uncomfortably.

You may think that's a lousy wish and you most certainly will turn down my next invite for a cup of coffee. But, if you're thinking this, then I mean it most for you.

Okay, obviously I need to explain myself...

Over the last number of years it's been in my greatest discomfort where I've received my most treasured riches. It's when I deliberately made choices to be uncomfortable-- to be a single mom, to move to one of the poorest countries in the world, to give up a respectable job, to choose to face death where there is no support in the process-- It's through all of these choices where I've gained the most.

I wish it weren't so my friends, what we've been taught since we were wee, I wish I weren't trying to dispel a lie but the fact of the matter is, we weren't meant to be comfortable. What you may think is discontentment, or the desire for more, what keeps you striving, it won't be eliminated with more. Nope, the problem, I believe, is that you're too comfortable.  It's not how we were meant to be. As I observe a much more "comfortable" life (and live one myself) my heartaches and my longings and discontentment resurfaces. It just doesn't feel right, friends, it's because it was never meant to be like this. You aren't meant to have it all together, not all picture perfect, not all in your own strength.

Dear friends, I'm sorry you've been lied to. The truth is...

"A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet." Proverbs 27:7

So whether you make decisions, or life decides for you, may you taste and see (and even choose) the sweetness. I say with confidence, through the discomfort, through the times when you "want out" you WILL experience, you WILL hear from, you WILL RECEIVE all and more than you ever NEED, from HIM-- the giver of every good and perfect gift.

So ultimately, it's this, my Christmas wish is for you to be so uncomfortable that you, through knowing Him more, can live in the fullness of His blessings! To learn that EVERY BITTER THING IS SWEET. It's not easy, but it's sweet.  It's good and it's learned.

It's because I love you and want you too to be filled with His best blessings. That is my wish for you this Christmas! Merry Christmas!

a christmas gathering

If you'll be in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area on Wednesday, December 16th, and would like to join us for a holiday gathering to hear more about our work in Mozambique, please email me for details!
There will be door prizes too! And treats!  We'd love to see you!

happy thanksgiving

Last Sunday, when Chad was sharing at a church, he shared about a patient that we've had the opportunity to watch change. As he spoke, as he so eloquently does, I had a moment, a moment when I remembered...

...I don't know, back 10, 15, 25 years?....

I imagined myself sitting in church and hearing a missionary speak, seeing pictures of what seems like miraculous life transformations...

And then, as if I had lost track of the present, I "re-entered" and realized, "Dara, that's your life! You are doing that now! You saw that! You know that story!"

And, not as if I "have arrived" but I realized just then

how thankful 

I am. The life that I used to just dream about is mine. I feel so unworthy of it. Tears of thankfulness rolled down my face. I couldn't believe that those pictures were ours, that that is our life.

Since being in America I feel a sadness, an emptiness. I don't feel like I've "connected" deeply with many people I don't know why that is or what that means but it's left me wondering. I wonder how many people around me, who appear to have a "beautiful life", have really had the privileged of having that realization of gratitude, that the life they dreamed of, is theirs? I hope it's more than I think. Maybe I just haven't gotten to hear their story yet.

--As we reflected over Thanksgiving, I was filled with gratitude for oh, so many things! Primarily I'm grateful I decided to take the hard road, to go the less traveled route where many said, "wait!" Had I listened to the world's advise, would I have arrived, here, in my dream?

I'm thankful beyond these simple words!

Amen!

the homecoming

Phew...what a whirlwind we've been through over the last 6 weeks,

Some ups and downs that make the best of us long for and need a breather,

a deep breath.

All the emotions of leaving a house that's been a home for 5 pivotal, difficult years.

Moving into your first "family home" with threats of war within miles,

Blessing your team and leaving them to carry on the work and deepest calling of your heart, 

And then, fighting the battle of bureaucracy, when your fight is tired of the 7 year battle.

But, you keep fighting don't you?

You keep pushing, in faith, because you know, that He fights for family,

He longs for unity, oneness and love.

Then finally, after all the blood, sweat and tears

To be part of this...

All we can say is, Thank you LORD!

 That our little girl gets to experience this beauty,
And be a part of 2 wonderful families!

To find words and ways to express our gratitude

Feels impossible.

You've walked with us when it was Dara,

Then Nede and Dara.

You saw the miracle when it became Nede and Dara and then, hmmm... "a friend".

Then you celebrated when we became Nede, Dara and Chad.

You watched us go from 1 Vanden Bosch

To 2

And now to 3.

Happy as a family, at home!

With all of this I am reminded of the words of Paul....

 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Thank you God!)
 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart (Yes, each of you!). You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News (You saw us through so much!). God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus (Yes, indeed, I love you and your prayers SO MUCH!).

 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding (And know Him more through His beautiful goodness!).  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philippians 1:6-11

(MUCH GLORY AND PRAISE TO HIM. AMEN!)

he's no ones priority

I've written about him several times before. How his story breaks my heart. How I've felt so blessed to be involved in his little life and seeing him change from malnourished and weak to cheeky and strong in himself. Now, my friends, I realize we live in a world that cares more about hunters shooting lions than my dear friend here. It's a world that would rather not know the corruption that's killing him. A place that's fallen so far from scriptural truth that I think God must be thinking again, "Are they ashamed for their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush." Jeremiah 6:15.

Friends, when I came home last night all I could say was, "he's no ones priority." And because of this, we're losing him. There's no one who makes sure he has his bath every day. There's no one making sure that he swallows his "tablets-for-life" twice a day. And, without an advocate, no one cares if the pharmacy steals half of his tablets so they can sell them for a bit of cash out the back door. Nope, his life is disposable because he's no ones priority.

And dear friends, this hurts my heart something fierce! And I know it will for some of you, too. If I'm honest, it makes me really angry that a lion who got hunted in our neighboring country got so much attention when we experience children who are living severely unjust lives primarily because the majority of the world doesn't care. It's surely not their fault that they're no ones priority. It then makes me think, what are my priorities? And, while I live in a world that's losing it's faith in ultimate truth, being the Bible, do I know what should make me blush? Do I have shame? How will I address the corruption that is killing him?

What are your priorities? Does our world make you blush? What are you willing to do to stand for Truth?

I know an 8 year old boy, that had no choice in the disease he was given, who has no mother or father, who really would like to be someones priority. Or, at the least, he would love for a few more people to stand for Truth and to stand with him in his prayer to be healed. Because, we wouldn't let "our priorities" lives come to a point that their only 8 year old requests are "Sister Dara, please pray that God will heal me."

My little friend, there's nothing I want more. You ARE HIS FIRST PRIORITY! Please pray.

10 healing interventions

(Off to do a dressing change)

10 Healing interventions we've learned:

1. Visit regularly and do what we say we're going to do (ie. If we say we'll come back Monday, we come back Monday)

2. Smile, laugh, sing together.

3. Tylenol 4 times per day.

4. Asking questions. And, listening.

5. Making eye contact and a gentle touch just to say 'we care'.

6. Laxatives.

7. Audio players that sing songs of hope and tell stories of truth.

8. Lotion, soap, lip balm and tooth paste. Epsoms salts!!!!

9. A new capalona (the piece of fabric used for carrying babies, blanket, skirt, etc- everything!) with color that's not washed, faded and worn to shreds-- showing you're worth it and you're beautiful!

10. Prayer. 

It's not rocket science, but it's making an impact. We're lovin' it!

the miracle

It was easy a few weeks ago to send out a message showing the obvious "Lazuras effect" on one of my patients. The photos told the story, I got to be a witness to it. She was near death's door now she has a job. We call it a miracle, we rejoice.

More recently I had another patient. I've been challenged about sharing her story. In my eyes it lacks the "miracle" and the "awe effect". Her storie's just as real and significant but it could sound like a tragedy. The question in my heart is, was it a tragedy? Where were the miracles in her story? I believe they were there, they just weren't what we were praying for.

You see, her story is common. I don't understand it but I recognize it and I run into similar ones far to often. She has "the disease". Her husband isn't to be found. Her children are with her in-laws. She's alone. She's far from the hospital that she may need to visit monthly to keep "the disease" at bay. She grows increasingly weak. She lies to us-- until she trusts us. But even then, no matter how much we try to "educate" her on her disease, she either refuses to believe or just literally, doesn't care. And, like she said, "I'm tired of being sick." She doesn't want to treat it.

Finally, I had to just say to myself, all we can do is love her how she is. I want life for her. I want healing for her but when we ask how we can pray, her response strikes me hard, "Pray that Jesus will accept me."

She was tired of being sick. She didn't want to try anything. Her decision had been made. My team decided to love her through this. It was an honor to visit her as much as we could. She was still laughing when we showed up one day and she wasn't expecting us. She surprised us by saying, "What? Were you afraid you'd come back and I would have died!?" Yes, dear one, we were and we wanted to be sure you knew you were loved and cared for.

I pray Jesus did accept her last Friday, when she left us. I think He did. And, maybe there's no huge miracle blatant for you to see, but when my Love shared this Bible passage the other day, I knew I had been able to be a part of "the miracle":

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”

14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”

And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.15 Therefore,

“they are before the throne of God
    and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne
    will shelter them with his presence.
16 ‘Never again will they hunger;
    never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,’
    nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne
    will be their shepherd;
‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’
    ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:9-17

Dear friends, do you see it? Do you realize the miracle? We have the privileged to walk with people, despite their decisions, despite their circumstances or their history. We can offer the hope that one day, soon, they will not longer suffer. They will no longer cry. And there will be LIVING WATER (remember what Mvura Ya Upenhu Palliative Care means? Living Waters Palliative Care). Dear One, Jesus will accept you into heaven, solely because you've asked. Yes, my friends that's the most beautiful miracle. What a privileged to be able to share it! The miracle.

nede day

Five years ago,

I became we... 

And now we are three!

 Praising Him from a whom all blessings flow! 

5 years ago today I sent the message, "she's here with me, now what do I do?" We've learned a lot together and I love where we've come. 5 (hard) WONDERFUL years!

dear aids

Dear AIDS,

I met you again this week. You've been successful one more time. You're not very creative. You try to destroy the soul the same way each time-- I can see it from far! The shame you bring, the brokenness you shower, the ostracism you provide, is rude. You're good at what you do, I'll give you that. But, I'm sorry to say, I won't give into it. I won't let you be. I don't care for your approach, because I know about something bigger, someOne bigger-- I guess you haven't read the Book. Or, the story for that matter. I am determined to use a different approach with your victims.

It may be greatly to your dismay that we're here to do the total opposite from what you gleam over. I'm determine to teach and raise up others to reject YOU, not those you affect. Because, like Jesus with the Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-24), even if I knew their past, it doesn't matter. I will not allow cultural rejection to stand between us, I will not allow disease to keep me away, I will not allow mistakes to ruin an entire life. Like Jesus gave living water, we come to try the same. [That's why we're called what we are, Mvura Ya Upenhu (Living Waters in Chetewe) Palliative Care] We WILL be there. Where you think you're being successful, we're here to destroy your ways, with truth. We will not run away. No matter what, we will stand and we will love those who you're trying to destroy! We're committed to speak words of life, truth, hope and love. I'm sorry to say, where you think you're winning, one by one, He'll redeem their souls. We'll show them love where you think you've destroyed their past. We'll point them away from you, to where they'll eternally know paradise. When you think you've destroyed enough here, may they know truth THERE-- where they'll never be alone, never cry, never believe lies and never feel shame again, EVER. Because like that Woman, "We know the Messiah. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. (John 4:25)" And until then, we come sharing mvura ya upenhu with our love. So, sorry AIDSs. We hate you but that's okay because we get to bring so much more!

Sincerely,
Mvura Ya Upenhu Palliative Care

PS- Jesus wins!!!!