Reminded to Remember

I’ve been reading Hebrews and am stuck in chapter 11. I’m not stuck as confused, but stuck like God is trying to imprint something in me…

When I think of the things we’ve walked through over the last two years of consecutively living in a developing nation, and than I compare it to the prodigious people who experienced incredible challenges without loosing trust in God, I’m obviously awed and humbled; but, it’s chapter 11 verse 40 that stirs my heart…

“All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.”

Their faith is part of a bigger story. It becomes intertwined in ours and together we become part of God’s Great Story that culminates in Jesus. Their patient endurance, in the midst unimaginable trials, is not for comparing but for remembering. I am “reminded to remember” that God was with them. God gave them faith. God gave them courage. God gave them strength to “overthrow kingdoms and make justice work,” to even embrace a martyr’s death. A presumptuous outcome didn't justify their faith. A submissive and focused perseverance in God’s providence made their faith legendary. 

  

So regardless of what we encounter - be it a horrific crisis or daily frustrations - "let us run with endurance the race God has set before us by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”

We remain grateful for prayer partners and supporters like you who continually encourage our faith. This month found us delivering water filters and sharing the gospel, facilitating bible studies, meeting about the Resource Center, praying, preaching, parenting and navigating the final documents of Henry’s adoption. Below are our current requests and some important information.

Please pray for:

1.     Healing for our local pastor’s wife, Mary who has been diagnosed with benign but painful tumors in her abdomen.

2.     The Lord’s provision since a few of our widowed mamas’ children need school fees.

3.     The young adults of some of the mamas to stay strong in the Lord and resist the pull toward evil gain and drugs.

4.     The Resource Center to be managed with integrity and the team to make unified decisions that benefit the community. It’s ready to open for ministry next month after the inside is painted.

5.     Henry’s documents to be completed without unnecessary complications.

We thank God we received his adoption and birth certificates.  The Lord also      removed an impossible barrier when we tried to apply for Henry’s Kenyan passport. Yea Jesus!

6.     Our family:

·       Kids’ schooling to successfully continue. They have all been very diligent.

·       The packing process - we need wisdom on what to store, transfer and gift to others.

·       Cost effective and straightforward travel plans.

·       Restored health. We’ve experienced various infections that tend to linger.

·       Provision and Protection.

Working together, combining faith.

Telling stories, sharing faith.

Reaching out in faith for salvation.

A bubuzela in worship? Expressing faith.

Kenyan church.

Our 18 year old getting ready for his next step in life.

Our animal lover.

Can I travel yet?

We plan to take a 10 month furlough for over due medical check ups and Henry’s assessments, to investigate Tavin’s future school plans and raise awareness/funds for the ministry. Please pray about continuing your support during this time and having us share with your church, Bible group or organization. Feel free to contact us - mlthauger@gmail.com

Asante sana for your prayers, support and encouragement.

hugs from the haugers Ooo0o

Snowflakes and the New Year

You might think – “She’s in Kenya. How can she be writing about snow?” Maybe my Pagosa friends deliberate they had enough of that “four-letter word and skip reading this post. But, here it is anyway, my thoughts about snowflakes in Kenya – paper snowflakes that is.

During the Christmas season the WOW mamas enjoyed a simple party where we decorated some cookies, talked about cultural celebration traditions and the Nativity story.  As we read Luke 2 and considered the events surround Jesus birth, I snipped a tightly folded paper. When the mamas’ voices abated into a rare quiet moment, I unceremoniously unfolded the clipped paper revealing a beautifully detailed snowflake, (like many reading this probably made as children).

“Oh!” exclaimed Josephine with naive wonder. She stared at the intricate design. I scanned the other faces to see the same smiling delight at a simple paper snowflake.

“How did you do that out of a plain piece of paper?” quizzed Janet; grabbing up the scissors and paper, ready to have at it.  All the mamas gathered around and watched closely as I creased and bent and squeezed the sheet and then started cutting away.  They learned quickly and began creating beauty to share in their humble homes.

I’m writing this on New Year’s Day.  Some people quote, “January 1, 2016 is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.”

But me, I’m thinking about that blank page being transformed into a lovely snowflake – something admired, valuable, wanted by women who had never seen a paper snowflake before. How it endured being twisted and bent, and pressed and cut and cut and cut and when it was finally unfolded, it took those mamas’ breath away.

So, if 2016 is anything like 2015, I’m believing the Lord will take the blank pages that life seems to write without concern – the cutting heartaches, the uncomfortable bending of plans, the twisting and turning, the raw shaved edges and painful snips, the unbearable squeezing and pressing, yet when it’s finally unfolded, something so beautiful appears, it takes the world’s breath away.

“And you shall fold them up like a cloak; they shall be changed, 

and you are as you are; your years shall not end.” Hebrews 1:12.

Happy New Year from some of the WOW mamas

and the Haugers!

Asante sana for your prayers, support and encouragement.