God's working...

Almost two months back in Kenya and it seems time moves faster than the projects we're implementing, but after reviewing images captured by the camera, we're reminded that God does far more than we can imagine. His concern for the poor is cradled in kindness and nurtured through relationships. Our western impatience and preoccupation with effectiveness is learning to yield to the gentle heart of peace.  Even in all of this, God's working... 

Garden Against Hunger

Some of the widowed mammas put the DIGGS teaching on service into practice by preparing the "shamba" for planting.  We're anticipating yummy, homegrown veggies in a few months to share with children at the orphanage.  Feeding the hungry is Jesus name is part of the gospel message. 

 Digging hard earth to cultivate fruit is symbolic of these women's lives.

 Tavin volunteers and the mammas enjoy his help.

 

Meaningful Object Lessons

Imagine precious few years of education where you sneak into class late because chores delayed you... You came in hungry and without shoes to sit on a dirt floor and listen to a teacher for hours... This was the childhood of our DIGGS facilitator trainees who recently learned the value of using object lessons to introduce a topic. We reviewed biblical object lessons and practiced some of our own. With peals of laughter mixed in thoughtful responses, the mammas understood - involving the learner brings greater meaning.   

Gaudencia and Mildred try an exercise about strength and meditating on God's Word.

The women attempt to walk with pebbles in their shoes while sucking on a pieces of candy.

Which do you think got the most attention - the discomfort or the sweetness?

What gets the most attention in your life?

 Needing Miracles

Always, the orphaned children touch us like no other.  In a country twice the size of Nevada, with 2 million orphans, what can we do? Of course, help mammas who are at risk of loosing their children, but what about the abandoned ones who's extended families and rural villages can't be identified?

We been asked by friends in USA to identify an orphanage that needs a nutrition program; that investigation led us to a place of brokeness - 60 kiddos, some desperately sick, in less than adequate facilities. 

 Prayer is their only weapon against evils threatening to steal what little life they still have. 

Will you pray with us?

These children need miracles.

Asante sana for your prayers, encouragement and support.

hugs from the haugers Ooo0

The Good, the Sad and the Ants

The Good:
1.  We moved into a bigger, older compound more suited to our family and ministry.  Thanks to sweet friends, we're fairly unpacked and organized.

Beautiful life in the new compound.

2.  The newly formed Love In Action leadership team met at our compound! (And I forgot to take pictures.)  Three wise, capable Kenyan women, a young, energetic gal from India and Lisa settled into the airy room; and while thin curtains swayed in the warm afternoon breeze, they prayed, shared visions, strategized, and prayed some more. They all felt prompted to create a safe, healing place on the tree-covered compound for victimized mamas to receive biblical discipleship and empowerment through the DIGGS program.  Everyone agreed the compound offered amazing potential to serve widowed mamas in Jesus name, helping them parent their children and halting the orphan cycle threatening to steal children from poor women. We begin our next training in a few weeks.

3.  A tender little orphaned boy grows dearer to us each day.  He's received sponsorship to attend school that will greatly assist him to overcome significant developmental delays. Yes Lord!

4.  Mark's cleaning out an old shipping container so he has a place to work on the evangelistic water project - a service that will not only bring clean water to poverty-stricken areas, but more importantly, bring the Living Water of God.

5.  Tavin's voluntary involvement with a new club surprised us.  Our sports-loving, academic-tolerating teen joined East African Youth United Nations.  This interesting association brings global issues (like child abuse, orphan crisis, hunger, potable water) to the table of young people, provides them opportunity to construct solutions and present them at the United Nations in Nairobi. Tavin hasn't forsaken his love for the game.  He travels this week (all expenses paid) to a sports festival in Nairobi.

6.  Taleah continues to amaze us with her gift to make friends with Kenyan children and invent fun.  We usually see a circle of small kids surrounding her, engaging in pastimes from Taleah's imagination. She claimed the vote for most creative writer in her class this week.

The Sad:
A young mu*slim girl Lisa ministered to at Joyland passed on. 

Where I found my Zeppond whenever I visited...

Zeppond lost her leg in Kenya's war against Al*Shabab terrorist group. Leaving what family remained in a refugee camp, the UN sent Zeppond to receive education, but she never recovered from her loss - both of her family and her leg.
Lisa would pray over her, share stories, candies, and even found her a pretty head covering, trying to make a connection that mattered. As Lisa saw Zeppond grow weaker and weaker, she advocated for interventions. Zeppond was sent back to the refugee camp. She died today. Obviously, too little was done too late. Our hearts cry for these wounded ones who don't know Jesus saving love.

The Ants:

Ugh! They are everywhere! 
Little trails of tiny ants marching, carrying things much too big for their small, small bodies. If we open anything - they are there, silently, stealthily invading the peanut butter, sugar, tupperware sealed oats and rice.  When we clean them out - they return, unhindered by our fierce resistance.  Even now, as Lisa types she's swatting tiny ants that seem to materialize out of nowhere.  Persistent buggers!

Scripture tells us we should consider the ant (Proverbs 6:6; 30:25). If we as believers work together without complaining

just think of the burdens the Lord would empower us to carry. Nothing is too big when we band together and depend on Him. Next, our Christian influence would be everywhere; regardless of harsh environments, we should be the aroma of Christ to a lost world. If we are not detoured by opposition, we can be effective for the kingdom of God. If a multitude of minuscule ants can cause such havoc in our house, know that diligent submission to God and constant refusal to give the enemy attention can accomplish impossible things. Never give up on Jesus, His purposes, His desires, His plans. He never gives up on you.

What do you think when you consider the ant?

Gratefulness for more” good” than “sad” focuses us on goodness of God. Please pray with us that... 

• Zeppond’s family will recognize the Lord’s goodness. 
• For widows and orphan care to filtered through divine goodness.  
• We embrace His goodness and extend it willingly.  
• We practice the lesson of the ants.

Some faces are just too cute not to post!

Asante sana for your encouragement, support and prayers.
hugs from the haugers Ooo0

Back in Kenya

We're back in Kenya, among our friends, ministering with them in places desperate for hope. Jesus brings hope that grows into fruit shared, fellowship enjoyed, orphans loved, and unexpected blessings of participating in a leadership conference, ordination and baby dedication. Grateful to be found faithful to the call and entrusted with God's heart for the fatherless.  Photo's below of the last couple weeks. Take a peek into what the Lord is doing in Kisumu...

 

Poverty's oppression is thwarted by the DIGGS project as widowed/single mamas commitment to serve God by banding together to read the Bible, pray and 

share their blessings with others.

  

Agnus and Josephine taste fruit from USA, 

something their "tongues longed for."

Fruit of the Spirit is what their lives long to produce. 

 

Giving with generous hearts.

Tavin and Taleah ready for the first day of classes. 

 

 Last weekend we enjoyed fun fellowship 

with families at the first annual school picnic.

 

Mark and Tavin join in the big "futbal" competition.

 

As many of you know, we live in a house with a very small compound - no room for hosting DIGGS training. We prayed for something in a fair price range with a place for widowed/single mamas so they 

could come to us for classes. 

Tada! Photos of the new home of CARE4Nations! 

It's in a secure location, but a block from the slums.

There is also enough room for Mark to work on the evangelistic water project.  Yeah God!

 

 

Our family joy - ministering to the orphaned kiddos

 with special needs. 

They love to tease Tavin. 

 We participated in a two day leadership conference 

on Identity of Integrity.  After the conference, you could find Lisa outside the church with Pastor Mary spending time with the women and children.

 The women work together preparing 

food for the conference.

 Mixing ugali and making chapati.

The children learn about Jesus 

and how our camera works.

 Tom, part of the visiting missions team, is 94 years old!  He wanted to come to Africa before he got to old. 
(Gonna be just like that at 94.)
He's not sleeping.  He's praying for the food.

 Breaking bread and feasting as His body, 

joined by bonds of brotherly love.

 Asante sana for sending us back to Kenya to express 

the Father's love to the "least of these"

who are precious in His sight.

                                                    Matthew 25:31-33

 

hugs from 

the haugers Ooo0

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Carrying Pieces

He pulled his grubby fist from the pocket of dirty, torn shorts.  With pensive dark eyes, he examines his treasure, and then holds it out to me for a look.  It’s pieces from an electrical part he might have found among the trash littering the side of the dirt road.  I think he wants me to identify them, maybe put them together and make them work.  I can’t; instead I smile, rub his head and watch him scamper off, returning the random pieces to the only place in his shorts that doesn’t have holes.

He keeps carrying pieces, wanting to find their value and meaning.  We do too.

We just spend the last six weeks among my family and friends in Colorado and Phoenix.  We ate yummy foods, laughed to tears, talked late into the night hours, prayed, encouraged one another with stories of God’s amazing grace.  I left for Kenya, still needing rest but content with the time spent enjoying those who love me well.  As the plane lifted for the long journey across the world I realized many pieces of me were left behind.  I pondered how many pieces of you I carried with me. 

Carrying pieces.  Like the little boy with his treasure of electrical bits, we carry pieces - pieces of those our lives have rubbed against that find homes inside us.  We might not truly understand what relationships really mean this side of heaven yet I do know conversations with kindred faiths along the San Juan River, in the few houses warming the valley of Rainbow Drive, over grilled burgers and African sideshows, in churches, on decks, in coffee shops, and even the grocery store parking lot deepens my walk with Jesus.  We share pieces of who He is in each of us, like children exchanging treasures, and we scamper off to live, carrying more of Him to into the next encounter.  

Carrying pieces.  We’ve carried pieces of you all from Jesus back to this beautifully challenging place, to the hovels of the poor, to widows and orphans.  We bring the tenderness of lingering embraces, the giggles from clever jokes, the wisdom, the intercession, the help of sturdy friends with resilient hearts, the donation and support, the strong words and belief that our lives make a difference in the Kingdom of God.

Carrying pieces.  Like my little boy with his treasures hidden in a safe spot of his tattered life, we desire the pieces we carry to bring meaning, to reveal value.  We might not grasp how these pieces all fit together to work miracles of redemption in the lives of the fatherless, but we see the One who does.  We’re grateful for the piece of you He entrusted to us, for the peace He gave us to carry.

Asante sana for all your love, prayers and support.

hugs from the haugers oooo

Home

Kenya created our home for 11 months. Tavin and Taleah attended school, birthday parties, participated in clubs and ran with laughing kids to a barrage of activities. Mark and I formed friendships with Africans that celebrated joy, struggled through trials, and felt comfort with each other's presence.  We decorated our white-washed cement house sparsely 

but our heart fully.

We traveled from Kenya back to Pagosa 4 weeks ago and found this place holds the same feelings left in Kisumu - relationships that challenge and nurture us, 
that connect us, make us vulnerable 
but warmly satisfied because we belong. 

In moving back and forth between countries, houses and friends, I've come to realize that neither place is my home.  It's not about Africa's muddy slums, flowering trees or sweet mangos. It's not about Pagosa's mountain views, 

green chili and hummingbirds. It's not about what I can have, what I miss or which place we think suits us best.

It's all about the heart of God.

At the risk of sounding too spiritual, 

I see life through a lens shaped by the orphaned child.  Regardless of where, the filter is passion 

to find family for the forgotten fatherless.

Maybe this focus formed because of my own current
physical limitations. Whether in Kenya or Pagosa, I'm

the penurious person, the one who attracts attention out of my need.  My body is weak. Without help, I wouldn't live. If somebody didn't dress me, I would not be clothed. If somebody did not get my food, I would go hungry. If I fell, there I would lie until somebody came to my rescue.

This image reflects a bigger picture.

Globally, there are hundreds of millions of children (today - right now) who will not have clothes because no body dresses them, who will go hungry, maybe starve, because nobody gives them food. Innocent young ones falling into places of horror and needing rescued, but nobody is there. 

Imagine a 4 year old on the street, without clothes, 
without food, without a safe place with caring family...

Imagine that child was yours...

Imagine if that child was you...

Literally, these children can NOT get what they need to live.

They need somebody. 

The difference between them and me 

is I have compassionate somebodies -

people that help me to not just live, but to live my destiny.

I want to do the same.

Help the helpless.

Make sure abandoned children, lost, left for death,

move gracefully, become accepted, belong, and fulfill destiny.

I want to find somebodies who know God enough to love Him beyond their comfort zones and risk loving that involves everything.

God's heart for the fatherless is my home. I want to live close to the problem because the Solution lives in me.

God lives in me. He made His home in me. Let my life be making a home for those God wants to father who have 

nothing

nothing

nothing 

and will die of nothing is done.

I'm not talented to paint a pretty house.

I'm not designed to gather trinkets that change seasonally.

I can't feed the plentiful or clothe the rich.

My deepest motivation must match the world's deepest need

and there, I will see God smile.

My home?  

I don't think it's here. Not Pagosa. Not Kenya.

Not of this world.

I'm looking for a better place;

home where orphans are not orphans anymore.

Please pray as we prepare to return to 
Kenya and complete the task the 
Lord entrusted to us.

lov,
~lisa 
because God loves us.