Worthless

This is Sylvie's Story. The job she does seems worthless. Read about her struggles.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: By Alain Masela Mwaku
The quarry of Kipushi is dusty and noisy. Families dig four to five meters deep in order to find gravel layers, then go through the sieve process to get good quality rocks to sell. Aaron Ngandwe, 11, is working in a quarry of gravel with her young sister Marguerite Ngandwe, 9 years old. The dream of these fatherless children is to be happy with life, like other children.

But their sickly mother Sylvie Ngandwe, 38, cannot afford to provide for them as she has no livelihood other than sifting for rocks. "I’m doing this hard job of little worth with my children, seeking to get our daily bread because of lack of available food," bemoans Sylvie. “After my husband's death two years ago, I was sick in my bed three days, home drinking water without food. My children had to work in the quarry for others to get food and I joined them after my recovery."

“Nobody assisted me. First needs, especially food were a big issue. My children did not go to school because of the high fees,” she says.

“Here under the shiny sun, we are digging gravel, which will be sold if a truck comes to buy it. I have to help my mother, putting our common effort together so that we can have a quantity for us to buy food and soap,” states Aaron.

“The job is really hard for me to handpick gravel in the sand as my duty. I would love to stay home and play with my friends. I feel pity to see my mother working herself,” declares Marguerite.

After sifting through a little heap of gravel, Sylvie can earn about two thousand Congo Franc (US$2.20) per day if a buyer comes. She has to fight hard for daily food and to cover a monthly cost of 8000 CF (US$9.00) to rent a house and US$15.00 to pay school fees for Aaron and Marguerite.

“I encourage my children to go to school. But when they sack them for [not paying] school fees, we spend time together here in the quarry,” says Sylvie.

“We start the job earlier in the morning if I do not go to school and we stop at 4pm,” says Aaron. “We suffer coughs and rheumatism regularly because of dust here. We use to take traditional medicines against the illness and dull night pains after the job. We do not have choice.”

The risk for children and their parents in the quarry includes mudslides. “I have scars on my body due to mudslide accidents," Aaron says. The crowd of women and children who meet in the quarry admit that the mudslides killed women and children a couple of years ago. “Working here is for us to get food and avoid our children wandering the town,” they declare.

Sylvie also has to work in the quarry with her last daughter Songa Songa, 3, who has a cold. “I bring her with me here because nobody can keep her at home.”

Sylvie is seeking business capital to sustain her family livelihood instead of the quarry. “As a widow, I dream to buy fish and resell in the market so that I can generate a profit. I’m seeking capital to start this and completely abandon my current job. Indeed, my children will stay home and I would be able to feed them and pay school fees for them. However, I lack money to start,” reiterates Sylvie. “I can also farm crops and potatoes if I get seeds and fertilizers," she adds.

Sylvie’s children are registered to Mwanga primary school but cannot afford school fees, though their mother has provided uniforms and school supplies.

Sylvie would also like to buy blankets for her children as it is cold at night, but her income doesn't allow for it.

The children live a hard life yet have high hopes. “My dream is to become a doctor,” says Aaron. "I will be a dressmaker," says Marguerite. The family eats once a day after the quarry jobs. Marguerite’s wish, however, is to eat twice a day.

(From World Vision's ACTs_

4/14 Window

The 4/14 Window refers to the world of children between the ages of 4 and 14. The term was introduced in a 1996 publication by Dan Brewster, then program director for Compassion International. Brewster’s article was based on research by Bryant Myers, who showed that “85% of those who become Christians do so between the ages of 4 and 14 years old.” The sad thing is that although children and teenagers make up half of the world’s population, as little as 10% of mission efforts are currently directed toward them. Children are worthy because they are close to the heart of Jesus. Mark 10:14
says, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
Children are the most receptive to the gospel, and positioned to be a mighty force to bring others to faith in Christ. Children have their whole lives ahead of them to live out and share their faith, and they also have time to be long-term agents of change. It is
vital to reach children while they are young and equip them to make an impact throughout their lives.
Children are important recipients of the gospel, they have tremendous capacity to minister to others.

Questions to Ponder:
Do you and your family, church, or ministry place a high value on children and see them as worthy of ministry?
What steps might you take to ensure that children between the ages of 4 and 14 hear the gospel of Christ and are equipped to be Christ’s ambassadors?
What other ways might you respond to this urgent appeal for a new missions focus on the 4/14 Window?

(Information by Tami Snowden)

ReLENTless Acts of Justice

I can’t recall a time when I truly participated in Lent. The children and I did something similar for 4 weeks before Easter. It was mainly a giving time to others--letters, cards, meals, phone calls, etc. Perhaps I gave something up for Lent--once. However, this year I noticed that World Vision ACTs (activism network) had ideas for Lent on a daily basis. The event is called Relentless Acts of Justice. I thought I’d give it a try and participate in as many of the activities as I can. I believe the first event with ACTs, we, as a family, took part in was Malaria day when we discussed the affects of malaria and raised money for mosquito nets to be distributed among those that may not have one. This event will be more of a challenge for me but I will give it a try. I’ve recently been listening to the “Radical” series of messages given by Dr. David Platt who encourages us to truly follow Jesus and his teachings. (You may see his sermons online at www.brookhill.org or read his book entitled RADICAL.) I had just finished one of the activities that he shared the other day and it was on today’s Relentless emails: to make a list of your luxuries. If you have a roof over your head, food in your belly, clothes on your back, you’re considered rich in the world we live in. We may not feel like we are rich, but compared to most of the world today, we are wealthy. (Of course I’ve never thought of myself as wealthy--monetarily that is. But I am!) God has blessed us in America. So how can we wisely use that blessing to bless others?

4 Year Anniversary

Sometimes when things are at their lowest point, the best moments are just around the corner. But you have to venture around that corner. (Suzanne Locklear)

I never had time to be scared or even imagine dire consequences from cancer--I was too focused on conquering it. (Judith Barnard)

Whole days, even weeks, go by now and I don’t even think about it. It’s amazing that after something so terrifying, you can forget. (Nancy Reagan)

My cancer gave me the courage to say yes to life and no to unhappiness...I chose to live. (Elizabeth Miu Lan Young)

It’s a pretty amazing wake-up call. Life is short and I can assure you I don’t waste much time. (Dierdre Black)

Why I celebrate:
Four years ago today, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’ve always had a fear of cancer because cancer is often looked upon as a dreaded curse. And yes, I thought that way myself for a couple of reasons. However, though I’d often begged God to keep cancer far away from me, I was diagnosed with breast cancer on February 27, 2007. Though a bit shocked, it wasn’t devastating news. During the whole episode, God showed Himself faithful--mainly through the diagnosis. Though it had been 2 years since my last mammogram, I was told that if I had gotten the mammogram on time, the tumor probably wouldn’t have shown up. If I had waited, it wouldn’t have been felt until it had really enlarged. The mass was only 1/2 cm--pea sized. Even though small, cancer can be scary. I was alone in the doctors office when I got the news of the possibility of breast cancer--a terribly lonely time. After the mammogram, a second mammogram, an ultrasound and finally a biopsy, I knew it was my turn for the disease that no one wants but has infiltrated our family. The day I got the call, Jim was at work, Caleb was in L.A., Cory in Madagascar, Carey in Tennessee, and Charley was at home. I immediately called my good friend Cindy and she came right over. She had been through breast cancer the year before. She helped me through those first few minutes of wrapping my head around the news. It wasn’t long before friends and family began sending me words, songs and Scriptures of encouragement. That night, to relieve some of the stress of being overwhelmed, we went to Red Brick Pizza (in Paso) of all places to eat and watch TV (each table is set up with a little TV on it). (that sounds random-lol)
The surgery was on March 2 but the day before is when I really fell apart. Charley soon had me laughing and we decided to go bowling. (What else is there to do in a small town? Ha!)
Encouragement continued to roll in, even at the hospital. Sarah Kate, Joel and Diego came to be there for me and Sarah sang Ginny Owen’s “If You Want Me To”. One of the nurses prayed with me. I am so thankful for all those that shared in this experience with me through prayers, encouragement, Scripture and songs.
After my radiation treatment, we moved to Tennessee and I’ve been celebrating my BC anniversary every year with something fun, unusual, or unexpected. This year, year 4, I’m not sure what I’ll do. A trip to California sounds good to me. We’ll see.

The stedfast of mind Thou will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee. Trust in the Lord forever, for in God the Lord, we have an EVERLASTING ROCK!! Isaiah 26:3-4

I sought the Lord and He answered me. And delivered me from my fears. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Psalm 34:4

Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3

Red Hand Day--February 12

Children Should Not Be Forced Into Combat

Red Hand Day, on February 12, is a worldwide initiative to stop the use of child soldiers. According to U.N. statistics, there are approximately 250,000 child soldiers worldwide being used in adult wars. The average age is 15-18, however some as young as 7 years of age are forced to participate.
They basically become slaves for their commanders. They fear for their lives so do as they’re told from running errands to becoming victims of sex abuse. They may participate in combat, laying mines or other explosives, scouting, spying, cooking and domestic labor. Some join voluntarily for a sense of survival. About 1/3 of child soldiers are girls doing what the boys do as well as forced to be “wives” or “sex slaves” to the commanders. They may be infected with HIV/AIDS or other STDs and many girls become pregnant. These children live under harsh conditions with little food and little or no healthcare.
In the past decade more than 2 million children have been killed in conflict situations. An estimated 6 million children have been seriously injured or permanently disabled. (World Vision)

Pray for the Child Soldiers!

Superbowl Sunday--Super for ???

How will you spend your Super Bowl Sunday?

As people around the country meet for food, fun and fellowship--eating to their heart’s content and cheering on their favorite team--young girls are being sold into the superbowl city, in and around Dallas, Texas. Church activities are put on hold because of this big game--one of the biggest human trafficking events in the U.S.A.
“It’s a sad fact that where men and money converge, human trafficking follows. To meet the demand, many prostitutes will be brought in, including children and teens. Many of these will be forced victims, literally being sex slaves for human traffickers.”
“Dallas Cowboy, three time pro-bowler Jay Ratliff has joined the fight against the tragedy of child human trafficking. ‘It has recently come to my attention that American children are being bought and sold for profit and pleasure and I’m mad. Men, I’m talking to you,’ declared Mr. Ratliff.” He states that “real men don’t buy children, they don’t buy sex.”
It is estimated that between 100 and 300,000 U.S. children are trafficked within our own borders each year. (Aaron Russell, Dallas City Buzz Examiner) 25% come through Texas. (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)
“Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott noted that there is a ‘looming potential explosion of human trafficking around the Super Bowl.’” He also announced that he would be sending a dozen staff members from his human trafficking task force to assist local law enforcement in cracking down on human trafficking during this years Super Bowl. (John Burger)
Human trafficking is the fastest growing illegal trade and is expected to surpass drug trafficking in the next two years, according to Traffick 911. (Josephine Vivaldo--Christian Post Contributer)
Several local organizations in the Dallas area are joining in the effort to raise awareness and support ground work in recognizing and reporting human trafficking for the Super Bowl 2011. Also, 5 major airlines offered a course last week to teach ways to identify traffickers and their victims.
So while you’re enjoying your wings and nachos--pray for the little ones losing their innocence today.
Other resources:
www.traffick911.com

Some Red Flags:
Scripted answers.
Inconsistencies in story.
Branding or tattoos, especially that reflect ownership or money.
Bruising, including handprints or thin marks like an extension cord or wire. Varied stages of healing with black, purple, blue, yellow shades.
Coming on to several men.
Appears helpless, shamed, nervous.
Malnourished.
Inability or fear to make eye contact.
Chronic runaway; homeless youth.
Dating much older, abusive or controlling man.
Not attending school or has numerous school absences.
Clothes that say, “Daddy’s girl” or inappropriate for weather.

On its own, one of these signs might not indicate trafficking, but 2-3 together are a good indication. The average life expectancy for a child forced into sexual slavery is 7 years. Don’t wait. Call 911 and the National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1.888.373.7888, if you suspect something. It’s better to be wrong than not to report it. A life might just depend on it.

"Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves." Proverbs 31:8

Take Your Best Shot

For the past couple of weeks I have been reading about causes, passion, doing something bigger than yourself. The two books I have been reading would be terrific reads for you and the young person in your life. (I actually posted information about one of the books on my previous blog about human trafficking.)
Austin Gutwein was a nine year old when he watched “Maggie”, a story about an AIDS orphan in Africa living with her great-grandmother. He was so touched by her story that he wanted to do something, but he didn’t know what to do. After speaking with someone at World Vision, he was encouraged to use his interest and passion to bring hope to orphans in Africa. He started “Hoops for Hope” to raise money for this cause. His first event was held on World Aids Day and he shot over 2,000 hoops (baskets) by himself. The next year, hundreds joined him. You can take part in shooting hoops to raise money for Austin’s organization or maybe you’ve got a different passion. There are many needs around the world. Find your passion, take your best shot and do something bigger than yourself.

His book: Take Your Best Shot.

Some Stats:
Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS.
Of the 11 million people in Zambia, 1.2 million are AIDS orphans.
Every 14 seconds another African child becomes an orphan because of AIDS.
There are 15 million AIDS orphans worldwide; 12 million are in sub-Saharan Africa.