NOVEMBER 7th

PLEASE CONSIDER COMING TO THIS EXCITING, IMPORTANT, STRAIGHT FROM MY HEART EVENT:
(click images to enlarge)






If you have any questions, please email me: darajean15@hotmail.com
If you don't live in the area and can't come would you please consider praying as the planning and prep continues for this day? If you are one of my dear friends in AZ or anywhere else in the country/world don't you think this would be a great excuse to come visit me here in Minneapolis:) All are welcome!!
More info as the day draws nearer...

The Heart of God

I went to a Jeremy Riddle concert tonight. I was volunteering at the Compassion International table. I always love doing this. This is the first concert I have been to since returning from Mozambique. Tonight was especially moving to my vulnerable heart. Before the concert started this one guy kept coming back to the table. I could tell that he was really contemplating sponsoring a child. He would ask some questions and then leave, come back and look at the little faces again and then leave. Throughout his many visits to the table he asked a number of financial questions. I could tell that finances were what was holding him back- he wasn't sure he could afford this commitment.
Once the concert started it only took him about 2 songs before he came back to the table and sponsored a little guy from Bolivia. It was a beautiful thing to watch. He contemplated, he prayed and I believe he is sacrificing for this child. This man will be blessed for this. I just wish I could have stood on that stage and told everyone what this man just did and what an impact he is making. I have seen first hand the life changing impact that sponsoring children makes. It saves a life and hopefully a soul.
Whenever I volunteer at concerts like this I look forward to hearing how the artist shares about Compassion and what it means to them. These artists are the ones who get to stand on the stage and share the impact of Compassion.
Jeremy Riddle spoke from his heart. He shared about what he has seen come from Compassion. Then he read Isaiah 58:6-11,

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

Hearing his heart reinforced my own. Well, no. Not mine- GOD'S! This is God's heart. Undoubtedly GOD's HEART IS WITH THE POOR! God's heart is with Mozambique, with South Africa, with Liberia, with Brazil, with each orphaned child. What a treasure it is to seek after the heart of God. What a blessing it is for my heart to care (minutely compared to what it does to Gods heart) for something that grieves the heart of GOD! What a gift- we're blessed to be a blessing...
www.compassion.com

Isaiah 1:17

God works in mysterious, no, MIRACULOUS ways! In November 2008 when my college friend Sarah Berreth boarded a plane to visit me in Mozambique she had no idea what that trip would be the start of. I couldn't stop crying when I saw her in the Chimoio airport. I couldn't believe that she was the second of my close friends to travel to the other side of the world to see me. Little did I know that God had much more in store than using her to get me through a very tough time in Mozambique.
Today, Sarah is back in Mozambique living and working on the mission where I lived. Over the course of her 6 months back in the States God continued to move in her heart as He had started to do while she was in Mozambique. Sarah, being the tender-hearted, obedient servant she is responded, in faith, and left on May 31 for the biggest change of her life. She bought a one-way ticket to Mozambique and is open to what the Lord may have in store for her.
Life in Mozambique is hard. It was hard for me. It's hard for Sarah. Somedays, weeks, months will be better than others. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I wouldn't have made it had I not had the support I did from "home." Without the prayers of all of you, God only knows what my year could have been like.
Mozambique. It's a tough place- a WONDERFUL place but a difficult place. PLEASE, as you think of it pray for Sarah. My heart aches for I know how difficult it is. My heart also yearns for the joy I know is there. My heart misses Mozambique more than I have ever missed anything before.
If you feel so moved as to follow Sarah's journey on her blog I know you'll be blessed (she doesn't have internet set up yet though). Her address is: www.temperarysojourner.blogspot.com (sorry, I can't get it to make an easy click link!) Also, I know she would be blessed to get encouraging words from anyone, everyone (I was!)! Her email is: sarah_berreth@hotmail.com
Sarah shared this verse as she prepared to be obedient and go: Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Sarah read this and responded. How pleased the Lord must be!!!

Move, so I can move

I have a love/hate relationship with technology. I love that it allows me to be in touch with far more people than I would otherwise be able to. I hate that I hear important life news by means of things like Facebook and text messages. I dislike that we don’t always get to look people in the eye and share news. In addition, we sometimes don’t even get to hear an audible voice in the delivery of important information. As much as I hate it, I have conformed to the culture and I am guilty of my very own convictions.
I love it because I often can’t articulate my heart verbally and on those days when I have something to “blog” about, I feel free. I feel free to express and share in a deeper way than I could without this modern theory of maintaining relationships. If I am not able to have the time or proximity to communicate with all I desire, at least with this crazy thing of a blog you can hear my heart, as cold as reading from a web address may be. I apologize for sharing via a piece of technology.
As much as I love and hate doing this, it is about as much as my emotions can handle some days.
I want to share with you the last few weeks of my life. As you have probably gathered from past writings, my return from Mozambique has been a challenge, a genuine struggle actually. It has been a battle, but not a battle without hope.
About a month ago, as I sat crying and contemplating life in a retirement park in Mesa, AZ I decided I needed to return to MN for a visit. This decision was made with the desire that in doing so, I would “feel” what was right for my future- settle (for now) in MN, AZ or somewhere else? A long story short, I spent a few days in Minneapolis (with 2 job interviews), Willmar, Duluth, Remer, Fargo. I then returned to Phoenix with the same uncertainty and not “feeling it”. I contemplated another week, celebrated a beautiful wedding of dear friends and then it came to me. “Dara- move so you can see Me move.” I’m not one to hear a loud, booming, audible voice from the Lord but I ask for it. I speak to Him and I expect Him to speak. It seems crazy, it feels crazy, but I finally came to the point that I knew it was the right time to leave- to drive away from what I called home for the last 5 years. In coming to this decision, I knew I needed to do it and do it quickly. I never do well with goodbyes and it would never be easy to leave a place I have grown to love. Emotionally, I needed to just go. On Monday, I decided that I would leave Thursday to drive back to Minneapolis and arrive in time for a scheduled interview on Monday, May 18.
I did.
I packed, I cried and I drove.
Now, here I sit in my new home. I have been here less than 1 week and I have seen God move, as He promised. I am living with my dear cousin 2 miles from one of my best friends from college.
I had been actively looking for jobs in Phoenix for a good 2 months now. My connections and network of friends and colleagues were helping. NOTHING was happening.
When I returned to MN for my visit, I spent time with dear friends who encouraged me to return to Phoenix and visit a Vineyard Church. I returned to Phoenix on a Saturday-- 11pm. I looked online for a near Vineyard Church. I found one-- service, 11am, perfect!
I went. I saw a former colleague from my hospice job. We visited. I was blessed.
The next Sunday I returned. We chatted again. I shared that I was contemplating a move to MN. She mentioned that she has a friend in hospice in Minneapolis.
Long story short, I moved to Minneapolis. On Monday, I receive an email with a name of a hospice nurse in Minneapolis whom I am to call the next day.
Tuesday morning I make the call and speak to a very kind woman who promises she’ll get my name out to a number of hospice agencies as hers doesn’t not have any current job openings.
One hour later, I get a call from human resources at her agency and they tell me they do indeed have an RN position they are looking to fill, I should fill out the online application.
An hour later I get a call back, can I interview tomorrow?
Yes, yes I can.
Wednesday, interview number 2 of the week (I had 1 interview in Phoenix in 2 months keep in mind).
Thursday, a call with a job offer.
Friday, I accept a full time position.
God was moving when I had no idea He was remembering me down here. Had I not returned to MN I would not have thought to go to this church. Had I not gone to this church, I would not have seen a former coworker. Had I not walked away from Phoenix in obedience and faith I would not have made the call, I would not have gotten an interview and I would not have been offered what I feel is a good job for me for now.
I didn’t plan to get another hospice job right now. My heart feels tired of the heaviness, but, with the way I see God having moved in my life I trust this is right where He wants me.
Here I am. He will give me strength when I am weak. I don’t always know where I am headed but I trust who is guiding me. While my heart is still in Mozambique, my presence is now in Minneapolis. God moved me here so stay tuned to what He is going to do next.
Whoever said being a Christian is boring? Walk by faith with me and “watch Him move.”

May 7th- World AIDS Orphan Day

As I continue to contemplate and wait on the Lord as to what is next in my life journey, I long for that sense of purpose I felt while in Mozambique. I feel disconnected and long to be in the midst of being part of something bigger, something important, something pleasing to my God. While I am here I pray for opportunities to be a part of what Proverbs 31:8-9 says:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;
ensure justice for those being crushed.
Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless,
and see that they get justice.

May 7th has been dedicated as World AIDS Orphan Day. As I was thinking about this today I was heart sick. How sad. How sad that we have a dedicated day to raise awareness to such a specific thing. It's not just a day to bring awareness of a disease. It's not just a day to remember children. Specifically, it's a day to remember children who are orphaned related to 1 disease. Even worse, we have to have such a day because much of the world is ignorant that this pandemic is actually occurring. I was reading online today about this awareness day (check it out: http://www.worldaidsorphans.org) and I came across an article that is about the very place I was in Mozambique. My heart broke as I read, knowing so well who and what the article was referring to. Suddenly my experience was not just mine but it is SUCH a problem that many organizations are present there and are writing about this desperation. Please read this article, my cries are not just my own, read others words as well: http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=82033
When I talk in depth to people about my experience in Mozambique I realize that I often don't tell a lot of joyous experiences. It is often depressing, convicting, and heart-wrenching. Today as I was catching up on the Hands at Work website I was reminded of the glorious things that did occur during the year.

During the deepest valley I walked through while in Mozambique, not knowing what else I could do, I wrote a letter to a church in California crying out for help in the midst of hungry season. I learned today just how hugely these people responded. I didn't necessarily know this was happening at the time but PRAISE GOD that people heard of a need and did something.

A similar thing also happened when I wrote on my blog the desire Carlos had to get clothes for the orphaned kids we visited. I posted a need and individuals responded and I was able to be part of a tangible need being met! I am sorry that I too easily over look these great works that God did over the course of the year.

And now again, I want to be a voice. On May 7th I want to challenge all of us to do something, to remember World AIDS Orphan Day. I don't have anything specific I am ask anyone to do but I am asking you to DO SOMETHING. There are many great organizations to get involved in that allow you to make a HUGE difference in the life of a child. Think of the individual, the masses are too overwhelming. Think of the ONE you can touch. I hear all to often people using the excuse, "I want to get involved but I want to give to a place that I know my money is going to the people that really need it." I think this is a poor excuse. If we are that concerned about our money then do some research and find that place you can trust. I have had personal experiences where I see money going to the heart of the most vulnerable. Besides, if you can figure out away to eliminate administration costs, overheads, bank transfer cost and conversion charges, let me know and we can go and make a difference. Also, the money doesn't go from your pocket to the poor, someone has to actually do the work that we aren't directly willing to do!

Please, on Thursday will you take sometime to DO SOMETHING . Commit an hour to praying for children affected by AIDS. Fast for these little ones. Decide you're going to sponsor a child (http://www.compassion.com). Donate to Hands at Work http://www.handsatwork.org/ or another organization you believe in. Check out http://www.showhope.org, an organization dedicated to helping people adopt orphaned children. Commit to something that is already happening in a local church.

I don't care what you do, just do something!! Enough with the talk. Let's make a difference. It WILL make a difference. It will, I believe we have to do something. I guarantee whatever God lays on your heart to do, it will not be done in vain. He will honor you for your awareness and obedience. What greater joy are we looking for than to make a difference in the life of a child affected by AIDS. Imagine, what if being an AIDS orphan was your story, your child's story, or your best friend's story. Wouldn't you do what you could to help?

After you do something, share it with someone else. Imagine the impact we could see if we all did SOMETHING and we challenged a few of our friends to do something as well! I want to make a difference, don't you?

Happy Easter

I've been wishing I had something profound to share and inspire with this Easter but I have nothing. Or do I?...

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11

One day EVERYONE will be celebrating with us! Keep praying.
Shine until that day!
Happy EASTER!

Snapshot of 2008

This is a little slide show I made as I have been sharing with people here, it got a bit long, I apologize for that. It's there. Just press the play button.
Be blessed.

Is this a problem?

I am wondering if this is a problem?...Yesterday I was talking to my sister on the phone and she said to my 2 year old nephew, "Taylor, do you want to talk to Auntie?" I say over speaker phone, "Hi Taylor, how are you?"
I then hear the little squirt say, "AUNTIE, NO!! No, Auntie, I don't have any money!"
I am not sure where that came from but it made me think, and laugh (he comes up with the darnedest stuff!).
It may soon be time for me to work on something more than my tan.
After having a great week with my cousin I continue to pray for clarity as to what direction my life is to be heading. Please join me in praying as I have some big decisions to make.
Thanks for being there for me.

I was reading a book today and as I was snooping ahead I ran across a quote that really spoke to me. If I would have read it a year ago I am sure it wouldn't have touched me. Reading it today I found it just beautiful. It helped me understand myself a little bit. Maybe it'll help you understand me a little as well, maybe it will help you think about something of yourself.
Donald Miller writes in Through Painted Deserts:

And so my prayer is that your story will have involved some leaving and some coming home, some summer and some winter...My hope is your story will be about changing...about learning to love a child...about learning to love others more than we love ourselves...We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and the resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?...And you will not be alone. You have never been alone. Don't worry. Everything will still be here when you get back. It is you who will have changed.

Just beautiful.

Let's not be ordinary

Well, I hope you haven't stopped praying for me, and more importantly for Mozambique, Hands at Work and Rubatano.
I contemplated before returning to the States, will I keep blogging when I return to the US? I didn't think so. What would I have to talk about that I wouldn't already be communicating to the people closest to me. Well, here I am- blogging still. I guess I thought that once I returned from Mozambique my journey would be done- thus, any ones need to read my blog would also be finished.
I should have known better. I believe my journey may just be starting. I don't know what my next step in this journey is. I don't even know what I am doing this afternoon, yet alone tomorrow, next week or gosh, who knows, next month?? My heart starts to race just thinking about that.
So yes, here I sit at a coffee shop in what I think is Gilbert, AZ. Each day I wake with a prayer, "God give me some direction today."
It seems like it would be easier, I have been back a while now. It's not. I am told I may "just need time", "take care of yourself", rest, wait on the Lord.
So I am.
Who was I fooling that I thought I would just drop back into the land of opportunity and settle right back in?
The thoughts of malnourished babies are never far from my mind.
The voices of friends/volunteers saying, "I don't have money (25 cents) needed to take my child with malaria to the hospital."
The giggles of orphaned children still ringing in my ears.
The images of patients emaciated from HIV are real.
In a recent phone conversation with Carlos he said, "It's a very critical time here. The people, they are still hungry."
My heart is still heavy.
Yes, I know Jesus warned that the poor will always be among us. It's not my burden to take care of "the poor." But I do feel a responsibility to do my part. God opened my eyes to something more and I don't want to be ordinary. I don't want to just settle. I want to live big. This life is short and eternity isn't.
I don't want to be normal.
In the meantime, I don't know what that means but I believe there is something. I'll just keep praying, listening and hoping, hoping in more.

I wanted to share the newest video that Heather made about Mozambique. It's similar to some others I posted before but it's great. Sorry I am not techy enough to even know how to make a link but the address to watch this video about Carlos and Adao is:

http://vimeo.com/3573972

Also, if you had been financially supporting me I can't thank you enough for allowing the last year to happen. If you desire to keep supporting the work of Carlos and Hands at Work, please send checks to(not Highlands Church):

Hands at Work in Africa, USA
951 MacArthur Blvd
San Leandro, CA 94577

Or you can do it online on the Hands at Work website. www.handsatwork.org

Maybe someday soon I'll blog about what I am doing next. I will let you know as soon as I know...