Welcome Back

If you're reading this you may have heard, I am returning to Mozambique. Welcome back to walking this journey with me. Please excuse my misuse of the comma and my elementary spelling errors. Please display grace as you join me as I trek through life. If you care to follow my experiences please bear with me as I pose my questions, as I pondering to make sense of life and as I share my struggles.
It doesn't seem possible that it’s been 2 years since Laura and I were spending hours sitting around discussing what our passions were. At that time I didn't feel like I had a true passion. I remembered having passions as a child. I used to be passionate about running. But I didn't feel I had a real passion that mattered or that was really worth nurturing and living for.
Over the course of the last two years thing have become more clear. I have a passion. A passion that is leading me back to Mozambique. I am passionate for things that I believe have been nurtured within me as I have sought after the Lord. This passion has brought me to a place where I can't NOT return to Mozambique. Those of you who have been close to me over the last year have continued to remind me and encourage me that yes, this is the call God has on my life for "such a time as this.” This passion includes not being able to settle into my American life knowing there are hundreds of thousands of orphaned children struggling to make it on my own. Yes, the masses are overwhelming but the calling on my heart and the hope for the one are too powerful to ignore. God is passionate about the poor and because He is, so must I be.

For the next 2 weeks I’ll be preparing for this departure. I have finished work and am now visiting, enjoying and doing all I can to ready myself for a very unknown future. I go confidently knowing this is the time and in faith trusting in all that is to come.

I had the opportunity to go to a banquet for Master’s Heart Ministries where Carlos spoke last weekend. After an inspiring evening and the heart of God being shared I said to one of the organizers, “thanks for a great night. It was perfect.”  And his humble response was, “Well, God cares for people and if we would listen, so would we.”

I guess it’s time to go care for people.

Me, Carlos and Sarah (my friend who first introduced me to Hands At Work). What a special time it was to all be together!

And what does the LORD require of you?
       To act justly and to love mercy
       and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Carlos on "WINTER"

It's been really great being with Carlos in Fargo the last few days. Here are a few words from him regarding his thoughts on our winters:

Carlos in AMERICA

L

Last week Carlos arrived for his first visit to America, and his first visit to snow. I spoke to him the other day and he said in his perfectly passionate Carlos way, "I'm in the middle of snow. It's the hand of God!" I can't imagine what it must be like to experience snow for the first time. I look forward to seeing Carlos this weekend.
Carlos is currently in Fargo, ND. If anyone is interested in coming to see him speak please contact me for further details (480)272-2742. He will be speaking:
Sat., February 20 5pm Bethel Church, Fargo
Sun., Feb 21 AM speaking at a Church in Mayville, ND (contact me and I can get you more details)
Sun., 7pm Faith Church, Wahpeton, ND

February 26th Carlos flies to California for numerous speaking engagements in Paradise, CA and in the Bay area.
I would love for anyone to be blessed by hearing Carlos' heart. Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information.

Hungry Season again?

I spoke to Carlos the other day.
He told me it hasn't rained for a number of months again.
People are hungry.
I imagine their starving,
even to death.
I remember the look in their eyes.
Hurting,
so deeply.

I'm reminded--

"Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive a reward that lasts forever.
They will survive through hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough."
Psalm 37:18-19

WORLD AIDS DAY, DEC 21

AT THE LEAST, SAY A PRAYER...

remembering those

broken

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

Mark Your Calenders, Nov 12

Think for a moment. Is there one thing that you just wish everyone you love and care about could understand about you? Is there anything you long for people to understand completely, if even for just a brief moment? What is that one thing that you find yourself thinking on occasion (or more often) that others just don't seem to understand? (I trust I'm not the only one who has these things;) And what if you did have the opportunity to give these friends a chance to, if not fully, at least get a glimpse of understanding into the very depths of your heart.
Well...if your reading this you probably know and can at least verbalize what you think my hearts cry is. Some of you understand and other probably just wish "Dara could talk about something else," and many wish you could understand more but Africa seems like such a foreign world that it's almost impossible to feel anything real from the stories of it.
On November 12 George Snyman, the founder of Hands at Work in Africa (based in South Africa), will be in Minneapolis doing 2 speaking engagements. In the morning he'll be meeting with Pastors and church leaders to address what the churches responsibility and roll is, and can be, in responds to the AIDS pandemic. In the evening George will speak about the work of Hands at Work and what God is doing throughout Africa. This will be open to everyone, so please, spread the word and join us.
This is a great opportunity to hear and understand what and who has been a part of my life and influenced me. George has been a significant person whom God has used to show me His heart! I will post a message as soon as the final details of times and places for these events are set. Please, do all you can to mark your calenders to join us. Maybe together we can understand more.
More importantly that having you understand my heart, I pray we can understand more of God's!

Watch Online Today!

I just got finished watching the Living Truth production about Hands at Work in Mozambique. It's fabulous. My heart is overwhelmed with praise to see how the lives of children and families that I visited last year have changed through the work of Hands at Work volunteers. Those of you who have spent hours looking at my pictures with me will recognize faces on this new production, because of that I hope it's more personal for you. I hope these children are more than a number to you, more than a statisic. They are God's beloved. They're suffering and they're children with hopes and dreams. I have hugged these very children. God has given me the opportunity to know these children and we are called to them.
Watch and pray.
http://www.livingtruth.ca/
(on the right side there's a box that says, "Living Truth News" click on the Watch Now in green)

Living Truth Returns to Mozambique

Remember last year when I was in Mozambique and the tv crew from Canada came to film the work of Hands at Work in Mozambique? Well, they returned this year to show the progress that was made from the funds raised by the telethon. I cannot WAIT to see how things have changed and to see those familiar faces that I love. I was just looking online to find how we can see this in the States. What I have found is this:
On Sunday October 11 at 8AM EST (that would be 7AM Central time, right?) on National NRB Network (DirectTV channel 378) they will be showing and doing the "telethon" for "Hands at Work- Mozambique: Back to Africa."
You can also watch online after it has aired at: http://www.livingtruth.ca/ (someone needs to teach me how to make this a direct link:)
Check it out the website and you may see Carlos's familiar face:) I hope you have the chance to watch this on tv or tape it (or whatever people do these days;), or watch it online. Be blessed as this is aired and see how God has continued to work in Mozambique. I can't wait to see Carlos on TV. Please watch and pray.