Monday, March 31, 2014

MOTHERS MAKING GOOD DECISIONS - KEEPING THEIR CHILDREN

REHABILITATION VERSUS ORPHANAGES

MOM'S 
MAKING GOOD DECISIONS

THE NEW REHAB CENTER IN THE VILLAGE
A place for moms and children together - no need for the orphanage.
The faith of the family who started this was most recently doubled when
they had the opportunity to go to Africa with Gennadie from Ukraine - seeing
what they work with there - they returned to Kyrgyzstan with new and
renewed commitment to make a difference.

This couple will be PRIMARY CHAMPIONS with us in the movement
of Kyrgyzstan Without Orphans!

Program teaches moms to make bread and sew blanket.
They are paid for their work and are given the opportunity to gain skills.

The ovens - might not look like much  but it will bake over 100 love of bread
at one time.  Sveta is proud to be teaching the moms.

Children living with moms at the rehab center - happy to be part of a family.

The blanket factory - a beginning for this wonderful team.

Maybe not with her birth mom - but loved deeply by her foster family.
Abandoned in a basket when she was a new born, she how resides
with a family of 17 brothers and a loving set of parents and nannys!

More to our Sunday... Lynn shared 
"The Role of the Church in the Orphan Crisis"


Leaders and church members were touched to be reminded of the role of the church and the challenge before us today.  Clearly this church in this city far from Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan is 
READY FOR ACTION.

KYRGYZSTAN IS MOVING FORWARD
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY!!
AFTER CHURCH
We were served with a special treat - Shashleke at the foster home
of Natasha and Vadim...wonderful time with the family.

 And then today...

AM - sewing classes at Dayspring
PM - starting to stock the sewing room at Jeremiah House
PM - trip out to Kemin Senior Home to deliver the final stock of shoes we had to purchase that rounded out all that was promised. Today we blessed the staff and their children with brand new shoes.

And Tomorrow?
  • New school pants and skirts for our growing girls at Dayspring.
  • Visiting our special Hymanot and family.
  • Working on the new apartment - new doors and windows promised tomorrow.
  • Evening - teaching a group of believers at a local assembly.




Saturday, March 29, 2014

JUST ONE OF THOSE GREAT DAYS - AGAIN

 SOMETIMES, we 
JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO BEGIN  

DAYS ARE FILLED WITH SO MUCH THAT IS SO GOOD AND EXCITING

thank you donors!!!

1. Planning meeting for the conference! 
Kyrgyzstan Without Orphans
September 16,17, 2014

PLANNING for the September Conference - for Kyrgyzstan Without Orphans and
Central Asia Without Orphans.  34 participants and they are excited!!!

2. Computer for Dayspring

THANK YOU DONORS AND MOMMA - two new computers today
one for Dayspring and the other for Jeremiah House

PAPA Costa helping the girls and Mark work through the computer instructions.
Challenge is in the air - who will be first to start learning?

3. Computer for Jeremiah House

Different story at Jeremiah House - Our wiz kid - Slavik had things set up
in a jiffy.  Imagine - they now can do research and their homework on their new
computer...they were so so excited and thankful for this blessing!

Thank you Babushka!

All set up and a great big YES!  THEY WERE VERY THANKFUL!
WE WERE BLESSED!

4. Boys still working with Eldar at the car shop (Life Skills in action) - loving the learning and they are valued by Eldar - saying they are GREAT workers!

5.  Donation received today for five more families for the Adoption Conference next week in Kiev, Ukraine.  

We STILL need more donors for this - $200 for family for the entire conference - need to have 15 more families sponsored!!!!!!

WILL YOU HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN
UKRAINE ADOPTIVE FAMILIES NEED 
THIS BOOST 

Also met with a colleague from Ukraine who is in Kyrgyzstan right now doing some work with the government - great talk about what is happening and might be within our area of interest and planning!

Update on Ruslan (the little guy with the burns) - he is suffering but they are in hopes that he will not need the surgery - great pain today as they scraped his wounds. Very difficult situation for him. 

Getting ready to send Olga - our residential director to Georgia (the country) to do some training soon.  More about this later.

Tomorrow we will be sharing about the orphan crisis in a church in another city.  

Doors and windows are due to be installed in the new apartment and so much more.  

Yes, it was just one really fine day.



Thursday, March 27, 2014

JEREMIAH KIDS - AND OTHER UPDATES

JEREMIAH PROJECT
New Apartment - practice for orphan graduates!!!! 

APPRENTICING AND LEARNING

AND OTHER UPDATES






















PAPERS SIGNED!
NEW APARTMENT FOR JEREMIAH KIDS

We still need $3600 more to finish the deal!  
YOU CAN HELP US MAKE THIS HAPPEN

With a very special donation we have been granted specifically for our Jeremiah Project, we have been able to finally purchase our first "practice" apartment for our older Jeremiah kids....orphans who have graduated and are still in need of a boost.  We have Jeremiah House for graduates who are still studying and really not ready to live interdependently in a "practice apartment."  

We have the key and will be getting a new door and new windows in the apartment this week.  These will cost right around $600 for all.  In addition we still need $3000 to finalize the sale.  All papers are signed and we have possession.  We will need to do some renovations and then furnish the apartment.  Any help will be so appreciated.  The kids are worth your investment!  Take a look here at their most recent apprenticing that our kids are involved with.

Ildar from our church here in Tokmok - Temple of God, has agreed to have our boys
learn more about mechanics at his shop.  They are LOVING it and learning so much!
Slavik and Omerbeck....don't they look happy!
Great JOB COSTA - SETTING THIS ALL UP!

JONABECK AND VIKA HAD SEWING LESSONS AS WELL - DOING GREAT THERE
TOMORROW - OMERBECK GETS A SEWING LESSON


LIFE SKILLS BEING DEVELOPED AND IN ACTION
And the Dayspring kids were off school today -
Noorose - holiday week.  So Lubov took the crew to the library.
Books are so expensive here and with everyone loving to read she felt
it is time to introduce them to a new way of reading.  GO TO THE LIBRARY!
Not like reading at home - but an option for a day away!

UPDATE ABOUT RUSLAN - OUR LITTLE GUY WITH THE BURNS



HOSPITAL REPORT FROM KATYA TODAY

REPORT FROM KATYA - Today, Praise God, we were able to FINALLY bring Ruslan to the hospital in Bishkek. The doctor who was accepting him said that the burns are deep and wide, an operation will be needed, they will have to transplant the skin. But about that I will know tomorrow for sure. He is not allowed to walk, because his burns open and start to bleed, and that is dangerous. They told us that his diet should be very strict. His birth mom stayed with him. I gave him the New Teatament for kids, and told him that he can pray to God, and he told me that he already began to pray. 

Monday, March 24, 2014

ANOTHER CHILD BURNED BADLY - OFF TO HOSPITAL FOR SKIN GRAPHS

RUSLAN - BURNED BY GASOLINE
LIVES IN CHUI ORPHANAGE

we just got notice...from Katya who is working with the mother..

Ruslan's mother is in the picture with him.  She gave us permission to post these shots of her son, asking that we not show her face.  She is a 28 year old mother that has come upon hard times - she loves her son and has him with Chui Orphanage due to the circumstances she finds herself in.  Her son was badly burned with gasoline at the orphanage  - again kids playing with fire.  

Ruslan is hospital now in Tokmok - heading to Bishkek tomorrow.  He will be getting skin graphs - which are no cost to the mother.  However,  she must purchase the medication, food, and even the scalpel's needed to remove the skin.  She needs help.  Scalpels will be just under $100 each - they will need one for sure and maybe two.  The medications are about the same as needed for Galya.  

If we could raise $400 for him - that will get things started.  $200 for the scalpels and $200 for meds, salves etc.  We are working in partnership with Lepta Plus (Sergae and Annya ministy), Strong Tower (Katya and Andrey ministry) and ILDC - Kg - (Costa and Olga ministry).  Can you help us?





TRAINING, TEACHING AND PLANNING FOR THE GRADUATES FROM THE ORPHANAGE

UZBEKISTAN, TAJIKISTAN AND KYRGYZSTAN

LEADERSHIP TRAINING IN BISHKEK
Participants from across the borders!


  • Three days of training - starting today for these leaders.  Coming from three countries, working together on their own leadership skills.  Lynn conducted day one today and is ready to go for the next two days as well.
  • Mom on the other hand continued with her sewing lessons and taught one young girl - who shortened a skirt, made two pillow cases and a sheet for her bed.  Good day teaching for mom.
  • Ruby worked through some details on a a real estate situation - not yet resolved.  More on this later.  
  • Checked on Galya - she is getting the treatment she needs for her burns from the family who is caring for her.  She is unable to bend her legs and is completely bed confined. Not good.  Keep up the prayers. We are so thankful for the support for this work
  • Heard today the dental work is all covered for our Jeremiah kids....over $700!  Thank you sponsor!
  • Shopping trip scheduled for today for the clothing for the babies -  delayed  - likely not happening until Wednesday - helping out our friend in the ministry with clothing for babies they are repatriating from Russia - moms who are Kyrgyz and had babies there - leaving them and returning home without babies.  Sad situation. 
  • Tomorrow - more training, more sewing lessons and more preparations for the Fall conference for Kyrgyzstan Without Orphans.
  • Preparing to add two more Life Skill classes for each week - making four classes each week - wow - this is awesome.  We now will be meeting EVERY 8th grade and 9th grade student from two different orphanages (every week!!!!!!!) - keeping tabs on them from the minute we meet them.
  • Preparing to hire a full time Jeremiah Project Child Advocate. 
  • Upcoming tutors for Jeremiah youth - the boost might just be the help they need.
DESPERATELY NEED A NEW VAN FOR DAYSPRING

FINALLY - this is a holiday week here.   NO SCHOOL.


TWO OF OUR JEREMIAH YOUTH (OMERBECK AND SLAVIK) ARE APPRENTICING WITH A  MECHANIC THIS WEEK!  WOW....THIS IS LIFE SKILLS IN ACTION.  THEY CAME HOME TONIGHT AFTER A FULL DAY - EXHAUSTED - SAYING - A SHOWER AND BED IS ALL THEY NEEDED.  TOMORROW THEY WANT TO RETURN AGAIN!

WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ILDAR FOR TAKING OUR BOYS AS APPRENTICES.
 

Saturday, March 22, 2014

WE NEED TO TREAT MOM BETTER

BROKEN CHAIR - FALL TO THE FLOOR BROKEN TOE -CHAIR PLACED ON TOE
PAIN AND NO COMPLAINING




SOMETIMES I HEAR THE SADDEST COMMENTS - "I'm too old", "I can't do that", "I wish", on and on.  Yet, I watch my mother at 85 - who traveled here to Kyrgyzstan from Arizona - to spend about four months in missions to work with youth and teach Life Skills.  She has spend LONG days teaching sewing - and the patience that has gone forth is like that of JOB.

She is a model for many and for us for sure.  She s generous, loving, patient and oh so talented in her ability to teach these little ones the art of sewing!  Each child has made a pillow case for themselves - and next the girls will learn to make skirts for themselves.

Yet today - a broken chair gave way and she crashed to the floor.  After getting home, I accidentally set a heavy chair onto her toe - likely breaking it.  It is wrapped, she is Tylenoled and we sent her off to rest.  

Tomorrow - she is ordered to stay home - rest and recover.  Wonder how that will work?

MOM IS REALLY A TROUPER AND A MODEL FOR
LIVING AS A MISSIONARY IN YOUR SENIOR YEARS

WINTER IS HER BEST SEASON!

Friday, March 21, 2014

JUST NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN OUR DAYS HERE

LESSONS, LESSONS, LESSONS

1.  MEETING - Lots of new plans for Jeremiah Project.  First we will be starting for LIFE SKILL classes per week in April, that is doubling our present effort!  Our LIFE SKILL trainer, Katya will also be looking to identify another trainer to develop.  Next, we will be adding a person to coordinate all graduates from the near by orphanages - tracking them and getting them connected with the best resources to help them through the transition.

AND we have identified three youth who are most likely to need Jeremiah House upon graduation.  We are first going to see if we can locate any family and if we are not successful there - JH might be the best "boost" for them.

We will begin tutoring classes for our youth - connecting with the university here - International University of Central Asia to see if we can get students as paid tutors.  And with summer soon to arrive (we hope) we will be connecting with several businesses to see if we can get our boys into apprentice positions in the different areas of interest - plumbing (see our toilet blog), mechanics, construction, farming, etc.  As well as potentially with our partner group - into their chicken farm.

2.  GIRL WITH BURNS - this story is most distressing and I am not going to give you the FULL story as it is far too disturbing.  This little girl accidentally got burned when she was starting a fire with her brother - burning some sticks.  She wanted to speed up the fire and went to toss gasoline on the fire - catching her legs on fire.  Her pants melted to her legs - leaving her very burned and in great need of medical attention - which she did not get for several days.  

Upon getting attention - she ended up in a hospital in Bishkek and had several skin graph operations, paid for by a Christian family who hear of the situation - she ended up in hospital for  over one month and then sent home - with a promise of her mother to care for her.  With alcoholic parents, this did not happen and infection set in.  

She ended up with another family hearing of the situation and wanting to help - agreeing to take her into their home and care for her wounds.  They have no money for the expensive medications.  They are willing to nurse the wounds and keep her fed and cared for.

If you want to help in this - we can would be very appreciative.  We purchased $100 worth of medications today.  But the doctors said she needs good foods, vitamins, lots of fruit with good vitamins.  The fruits at this time of year are too expensive for this family who is sacrificially caring for these wounds.   

We are looking for a donation (maybe multiple donors) of just $300 to keep the medications flowing and for the purchase of more food, fruits, etc.  Let us know if you want to help in this.


PROGRESS - three girls have now been successful in working the machines to make their very own pillow case!  WHAT PROGRESS AND WHAT AN AMAZING START TO LIFE SKILLS!

Lots of attention around Kristina getting her lesson.  This is the surger here and she really
caught on fast.  Mom is hard at work, negotiating the language differences
and getting an understanding of what SLOW AND EASY means.

Kristina's facial expression tells it all - just as mom's does....EASY --CAREFUL.
Snejanna is looking on with great interest as well.  She had just finished her
work and was proud of her success!

And then success!  Mom looks on with pride at he little student and her success.
Look at Kristina's face - that is real success!

Mom worked with the girls by age today - tomorrow she will work with the last three girls at Dayspring and then we will move over to the big project - Jeremiah House.  The kids there are anxious - room is almost ready and we are more than ready to begin.  Our boys want to make pants!

Snejanna working carefully with mom...intense - and VOILA - she made her very
own pillow case!  We will teach the girls how to make their very own skirts as
well!

ARRIVING BACK HOME TODAY - We were so touched to see all these litte pants hanging on the line together - just a quick reminder of the little ones who really do have families - and the moms and kids that live in our apartment building - blessed little ones to have a mommy and daddy that loves them.  This mommy has two little ones.

IT IS A REMINDER OF OUR DREAM - OR PRAYER AND OUR HOPE







Thursday, March 20, 2014

THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT

YOU JUST "GOTTA" FEEL BLESSED

SLAVIK - HARD TO WORK AND VERY PROUD OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENT



















FIRST, you just have to understand the culture.  Although Jeremiah House had perfect indoor plumbing - shower, tub, toilet, sink, washing machine - all in the bathroom.  The JH family said they needed a new "outhouse" to which we said that is not necessary - you have a great indoor one!  Well, our decision and recommendation just did not fly!  Next thing we know?  The boys set to digging an outhouse.  With shovel, bucket and lots of hard work, they now have this eight foot deep hole in the ground - I guess just the right size to put a little house over and "voila" a new outhouse.  They are so proud of this - so how can we be upset?  They did a great job digging - now we will get to see their hand at building a little house?  I guess you might say this too is LIFE SKILL TRAINING!

VIKA, LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE GAL OUT OF VOGUE..WHITE SCARF ON HER HEAD, DRESSED WITH FLAIR, WE WOULD SAY!



















AND there is Vika.  She is more than amazing.  She was told as she graduated from grade nine from the orphanage that she would be a cook - so when she came to JH, she entered cook school and there she can also finish her grade ten and eleven.  Well, she is doing well in this school, but has not really "loved" the training.  She decided to take Chinese lessons after school and she is EXCELLING!  The teacher said she is advancing so fast she has passed the other students and they need to make other lessons for her.  Well, in addition she has been so interested in nails and hair.  She found out she can take classes to learn this and be certified by taking these night classes three nights a week.  So, we said YES, YES YES!  We are behind you.  Go for it.  

Guess what?  SHE IS EXCELLING!  This young woman is just awesome!

Mom trying out the hair dryer at the shop where Vika is learning!
REMEMBER WHEN?

AMAZING MEETING TODAY
NOTICE the sign on the wall.  We had 18 wonderful leaders at a meeting today - all about putting on a conference in September - a conference about the orphan crisis in Kyrgyzstan.  These leaders wil champion the way to bring (hopefully) 200 pastors, church leaders and other champions for orphans together to strategize on how we can make a difference in Kyrgyzstan and move toward BRINGING THE OPRHAN HOME -   working together for 
KYRGYZSTAN WITHOUT ORPHANS
Next meeting - next Friday!
Then there was the rush hour traffic on the way home from Bishkek!
NORMAL AFTERNOON RUSH HOUR

Mom still had energy to play with this baby this evening,
after she spent here entire day teaching Zukrah how
to sew!
85 AND 5 MONTHS  - LOVELY SIGHT


AT DAYS END - went to Dayspring for a cell group - Celebrated Olga's birthday, studied the second chapter of Acts, prayed for Olga, Dayspring, the children and LAST BUT NOT LEAST PRAYED FOR UKRAINE.

YES, THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE, LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.

TOMORROW?
  • MOM TEACHING DAYSPRING YOUTH HOW TO SEW
  • MEETING ABOUT JEREMIAH PROJECT - NEW PLANS AND SOME GREAT NEXT STEPS
  • CHECKING OUT THE PROGRESS OF THE SEWING ROOM AND THE NEW "OUT HOUSE" AT JEREMIAH HOUSE
  • PREPARING FOR THE TRAINING WHICH WE ARE DOING FOR TEARFUND IN BISHKEK NEXT WEEK - MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
  • PURCHASING FOOD FOR A DEAR CHILD WHO HAS BEEN BADLY BURNED AND NEEDS MEDICAL HELP, GOOD NUTRITION AND LOTS OF CARE

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

PILLOW CASES, BACKPACKS AND BABY SHOES - ALL GOOD

SEWING LESSONS
Pillow Cases, Sheets, Rugs

Mom teaching Olga - our Residential Director and Dayspring "mom" to sew, which will ensure the opportunity to sew continues after Ruby's mother leaves.  Olga made pillow cases today and is learning here how to use the surger.  Today, Olga said she has been thinking of all the things she and the girls could make: sheets, pillow cases, stuffed toys, rugs, chair covers, arm covers and more.  
LOVE THE CREATIVE MIND!  
AND KNOWING THIS ALL LEADS TO LIFE SKILLS FOR OUR LITTLE GIRLS!


BABY SHOES 
for the Baby Orphanage
After the Samaritans Feet shoes have all been delivered as promised, we had about 20 pairs of baby shoes left over - what to do with them?  NO PROBLEM - off to the Baby Orphanage today and Guljan was pleased to accept a bunch of tiny socks and the shoes.  She said these were needed and just in time for the little ones who will be "tromping" out of doors!  Amen to this little blessing for them.  Once again, thank you Samaritans Feet!


BACKPACKS
For  15 Beikuit Orphanage Youth

What fun it is to see little ones receive a blessing and a gift from our donors.  Here the children from Beikuit Orphanage are getting their new backpacks from our donor - Jabez Blanket Ministry!  Wow!  

What a wonderful day!  
Bringing hope and dignity to orphans!

Now, let's find them families!
Believing in a World Without Orphans
one country at a time!






Sunday, March 16, 2014

JEREMIAH YOUTH - RECEIVE A WONDERFUL VISIT FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM BISHKEK








































DANCING, SINGING
DELIVERING GIFTS OF CLOTHING TO THE YOUTH

This visit from the students really made a mark on our Jeremiah House youth.  What a blessing they came and just spent time with our kids.  Building hope and helping our youth see other youth who are moving on with their lives - learning, growing and making plans.

GOOD VISIT!  GOOD MODELS AND once again hope and dignity passed through the doors of Jeremiah House.  

Friday, March 14, 2014

WHEN BEING FLUFFY WITH OUR SPEECH - REALLY HURTS


TALK ABOUT HARD THINGS
Talking about the Hard Stuff Going on Around the World with Student

By Beth Guckenberger - Beth Guckenberger is the mother of a bunch of biological, a bunch of adopted and a slew of foster children.  She and her husband, Todd, direct Back2Back Ministries.  Beth is the author of several books on the journey of their life abroad. 


When I read this article by our Partner Ministry - Back2Back; Beth Guckenberger (author) - all I could say was RIGHT ON!  Oh how we get the hard questions and feel at a loss many times in what to say.  Beth does a marvelous job encouraging all of us to be most careful and NOT BE FLUFFY WITH OUR SPEECH - AS IT TRULY HURTS MORE THAN HELPS!
See the article below:
 
Talking about the hard things - to all - children, seniors, the disabled.  
In every interaction with children - there are questions....and we must be honest
and be prepared...capacity building is one way to become prepared.

Humbling servant leadership brings every missionary to the place of hearing the
pain and suffering of others - this happend frequently with the serving of the shoes.

Parterning with local ministries is critical to continue and build sustainable
resources for "telling the truth and sharing about the hard stuff!"


I live and work in hard stories. As someone who has been immersed in the orphancare movement for almost 20 years, I am thrilled when a student catches a vision for how God can use him or her in those hard places. I wish all students had the opportunity to engage, but many are not exposed. In part, because the adults of their lives, the teachers, parents, youth ministers don’t know how to answer the impossible questions (How could God allow…? Where was God when…?) so they don’t entertain those conversations. The casualties are fierce, not only do the students miss out, but the lives of those they might impact are left wanting.
So if someone wanted to have these life-changing conversations,  where does one start?
In my experience working with orphaned children, and as a mother to my own nine interrogators, I use the following steps to approach these tough subjects. It always feels easier to act like I didn’t hear a hard question, to redirect them to someone else or to give them a pat answer or worse yet, a false promise, but what an opportunity I miss when I take the easy way out. Here are some steps to the better way…
Follow this pattern, not as a rulebook, but as a guide to give you the confidence to wade into waters where you, too, might still have some lingering questions/doubts.
1. Always start with the thing you know to be true…
In my life, I have the same conversation starter whether I am talking to an orphan about the questions they have in their head (Am I loveable? Am I loving? Am I loved?) Or I am talking to a student eye witnessing or hearing hard things for the first time (How could God let that happen? Could that happen to me? What should I do about it?)
All conversations start with the truth.  It’s how you build the platform. So say, “What do we know to be true of God?”
He loves us. He doesn’t want one of us to be lost. He is coming for us. He defends his people. He knows us. Etc…
Start hard conversations with the construction material we know will make the house stand.  Make a list of the truths you find in Scripture and have them on hand, build them with the student, or offer them the truths that have been meaningful to you. Remind them these truths in the conversations that follow. Help make ‘truth telling’ their default button.
2. Don’t shy away from the hard stuff
It’s our temptation to shield kids from hard things, to help them experience all the benefits of being one of God’s kids and none of the costs, but Jesus invites us into his sufferings and if we are growing up the next generation of disciples, we need to teach them what it means to participate with Christ in his sufferings. That means offering ourselves (friendship, acts of service, goods) to people who might not understand our intentions. It means knowing our teaching needs to reflect right theology. If we are, for example, teaching about God’s shelter in Psalms 91, we don’t equate shelter to our nice, American homes.  Our teaching should reflect God’s truth and any one of his children around the world should be about to hear it and apply it. This kind of teaching, that tells the truth and not tickles our ears, will inoculate our students from the struggles some Christians experience when their ‘shelter’, as they understood it, falls.
3. When teaching about hard things, we should emphasize above all things, God’s sovereignty.
When things don’t go down as we wish they would, we can trust a God who never loses control. Hard news, hard images, hard realities make us doubt (Could that happen to me?) Teaching students upfront that above all things, God is good. Above all things, he is sovereign. Above all things, he loves us… creates the foundation that won’t crack.
We have the opportunity to teach hard circumstances aren’t to be avoided, or suffering ignored. So many adults don’t know what to do in the face of hard, so they do nothing.  We not only can do something, we can be the hands and feet of a God looking to enter into the chaos of a lost world with good news!
4. We can talk to students about something in the mission community widely known as the Galatians 6 principle. 
In Galatians 6:2 Paul says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”  A little while later though, he says in 6:5, “each one should carry his own load.”  So, you might ask, which one is it? 
In the original language, a ‘load’ is referred as the weight of a soldier’s backpack, about 35 pounds.  Paul is telling us to carry our own backpack, something manageable. We not only need to carry our own, but we need to allow other’s to carry their own. To take on someone’s backpack robs them of dignity and creates the victim mentality we see sometimes in social justice.
But someone’s burden is our privilege to share.  It’s more than someone can do on their own, and helping students live out this biblical principle of carrying another’s burden is an opportunity to teach a lesson that will stick with them for a lifetime.
5. Make hard discussions a regular part of your routine. 
As teens grow into adults, and the hard just gets harder, be the person they feel like they can come and ask questions of. Open the door. Share your own questions; this is what it means to work out our faith with fear and trembling.
Together, we can encourage this next generation of givers and goers and senders to embrace a world lost in chaos and hungry for the peace only He gives.



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