I Pray

Right around New Year’s (Resolutions and all that) I came up with the idea of creating a “Prayer Album” on my ITouch.  It’s a digital photo album of people/things I want to pray for/about on a regular basis.  For me, scrolling through those pictures works better and is more meaningful to me, than simply going down a list of names/prayer request.

My original Prayer Album had about 43 pictures of 55+ people.  It was taking me an hour to get through the list, not that interceding an hour a day is a bad thing!  But the reality is that I only made it completely through my list a few times.

A couple weeks ago I made a revision- Prayer Album, Rev. 2.0- I created separate albums for each day of the week.  Some people are only in one album but some are in 3 or 4 albums.  Mostly I have pictures of people, but I can also upload a logo for example- so I can regularly pray for an organization, ministry or I can upload an image of a flag and pray for a Nation or people group.

I guess I don’t have to have visual reminders to pray/intercede for others- but I like it…and I’m more apt to have my ITouch with me during the day than a prayer journal.  Not only do I normally spend the 10-20 minutes each morning interceding, but I find myself scrolling through the album throughout the day and whispering a quick prayer for the people on my list.

If you like this idea, then feel free to send me $9.99 and create your own Daily Prayer Photo Album.  Or don’t send me any money and just do it anyway.

Update. Surveying. Haiti. Passion. Ukraine.

It's been a while so I figured I'd post an update.

I'm living in SW Central MS right now...mostly anyway.  I'm Surveying with my best friend from college.  We have plenty of work (when the weather cooperates) and people are quick to remind me it is a blessing what with so many people out-of-work these days.  It sucks to be shackled with debt again.  Although I anticipate clawing my way out by the end of the year if not earlier.

I'm a little depressed because my pleas for help in purchasing vehicles in Haiti seems to be largely ignored.  As I mentioned in an earlier post- when the earthquake struck Haiti I wanted to be there.  Missions- living overseas- serving...it's in my blood.  Because I need to concentrate on paying off my credit card and because I am committed to helping my friend in his business I knew I couldn't go to Haiti right now.  

What I could do though was authorize the use of my Ukraine Mission money for use in Haiti.  There's a steady flow- and even stockpiling- of food and water down there now.  What's missing is a reliable way to distribute relief.  My friends at AIM (Adventures in Missions) already had a network in place.  They are already working with local Haitian Pastors and Churches.  The flood of short-term teams has already begun. They want to purchase 5 Trucks/Vans and a trailer to transport teams and supplies.  I donated $12000.00 to be used as a Matching Fund towards a goal of $61000.00.  You can still give at either of these websites:

https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=HAITIEQ10

http://www.razoo.com/story/Haiti-Transportation-Fund

In Ukraine news:  The Passion World Tour will be in Kyiv, Ukraine on May 10.  When I came home last November my goal was to return to Ukraine in time for the Passion Conference but it doesn't look like that's gonna happen.  If things go well, I could return as early as the end of May but that's unlikely at this point.  I really want to get back there though...and I'd still like to spend some time in Haiti too.

Finally- man... it just seems like a lot of my family has been under attack lately.  Times are hard for several family members.  I appreciate your prayers.

How you can help me help Haiti.

My Dear Friends,

Are you as overwhelmed by the Earthquake in Haiti as I am? I wanted to go there the very next day. I’ve prayed a lot and my best response right now is to GIVE but even giving financial support is overwhelming. There are so many options, right?

Here’s a way you can give that will double your contribution. There is an immediate need for $61,000.00 for the purchase of 4 vehicles and a trailer to distribute relief supplies and transport aid workers through Adventures in Missions in Haiti. I will match your gift up to $12,000.00. I am donating the money from my Ukraine Account to fund this Match. The food and water is there; the bottleneck is a way to distribute the aid!

Adventures in Missions (The World Race people), in Gainesville, Georgia have a strong history of rapidly responding to disasters here and abroad. AIM Missionary Miquel Shaul has served in Dominican Republic for the last 5 years. He was in Port au Prince a few days after the Earthquake. An AIM Assessment Team was on the ground a week later. World Racers served in Haiti in 2009 developing and nurturing relationships with Haitian Churches. The network is there. AIM anticipates sending more than 2000 volunteers to Haiti this year. The first team leaves this week!

Teams serving in Haiti will need vehicles to deliver relief supplies and transport volunteers. AIM has already purchased one vehicle at a cost of $12,000.00. My goal is to raise at least $12,000.00 ($24,000.00 with the matching funds) to help purchase 4 more vehicles and a trailer.

Will you give to the Haiti Truck Fund? Remember, I am matching your gift dollar for dollar up to $12,000.00. Together I believe we can raise this money in just a few days! Your donation is 100% tax-deductible (and the deduction can be used on your 2009 taxes if you wish).

You can donate online right now at: http://www.razoo.com/story/Haiti-Transportation-Fund

or http://www.adventures.org/haiti/ (You can give at the Adventures site for ministry in Haiti in general but not specifically for the Transportation Fund)

Or you can mail a check or cash to:

Adventures in Missions

Haiti Truck Fund

6000 Wellspring Trail

Gainesville, GA 30506

Thanks for giving and praying.

In Christ,

Clinton White

Want to learn more about AIM’s response in Haiti? Check out these resources:

www.haiti.adventures.org

http://theshauls.myadventures.org/ AIMS’s Country Director in Dominican Republic

www.sethbarnes.com

www.clintonwhite.net-

I have no official affiliation with AIM; this effort is my own on their behalf.

Haiti. Money.

Haiti. The Earthquake.

When I first heard of the earthquake and it's magnitude I knew it would be devastating. Those first few hours I was either in a car or at a friends house watching an "Office" marathon...effectively a news blackout. It wasn't until later that night that I finally started seeing reports and images.

I spent the following evening glued to the television watching rebroadcast and live reports from that first full day after the catastrophic event. Here is some of what I wrote in my journal that night:

"I've prayed about children lying scared and hurt and separated from parents tonight. Many of them will never be reunited. I prayed about people lying trapped in the rubble hoping to be found in time but most of them will die slow, painful deaths.

Where is God in this? The answer is another question. God has a physical body here on earth. It's the body of Christ. So the answer to the question, "Where is God in this?" is... where is the Church in this?

The 2004 Tsunami. Katrina. Now Haiti. These are the great humanitarian efforts of our time. If we fail... if the church fails to show up, the the question will persist... "where is God?"

Growing up in Mississippi I had heard people talking about Hurricane Camille for 30+ years. I suppose people will be talking about Katrina 30 years from now. The difference is that no one (who was actually there!) can talk about Katrina without talking about the amazing response of the Church. The response and the witness of the Church IS the story and legacy of Katrina.

If the Church does what it is capable of, then the world will know there is a God. I believe it's the only hope Haitians have. Financial aid alone will not be enough for them to ever recover.

What should the "Church's" response be? Jesus said whatever we do to or for the least of these we've done unto Him. People in Haiti were already the "least of these" before the Earthquake. How much more so now? They are hungry, thirsty and naked among so many other things. How can we not feed and water and clothe them?

So I'm lying here in bed thinking about what I can do. I'm daydreaming about standing up in a Church business meeting and proposing that we give all our Building Fund money to help the people in Haiti. In my fantasy, I'm thinking how stupid it is for the local news to be reporting about how Jackson (Mississippi) has a temporary water shortage and you can drive to such and such location and workers will load your trunk or back seat with free water. You don't even have to get out of your car.

Meanwhile in Haiti, there is not water. There's no free drive-through. What an absurd contrast!

And then another thought popped in my mind. If I'm going to fantasize about being the lightening rod that spurs the church to forego it's building program in favor of giving to this immediate need, then maybe I need to give up "my" money too.

Truth is, I don't have much to give; in fact I'm in debt from living in Ukraine all last year. But I do have a significant amount of "ministry money"; money that many of you gave me to minister in Ukraine. I haven't been able to use it because I served independently last year and not with an organization. I can however direct the organization that's holding the money to give it to Haiti.

So I'm praying about doing that. Part of me feels no remorse- I want to save lives and invest in the Kingdom...and it really isn't my money anyway, right? But part of me is fearful because I'll be giving up my safety net for returning to Ukraine and I'm afraid I won't be as successful raising support again if I have the opportunity to return to Ukraine in a few months.

So...pray for me and with me. I want to be found faithful and I want to be a good steward. And I want to trust God.

PS- check out how Adventures in Missions is on the ground and ministering in Haiti

Thoughts on Defining Moments

I heard a "heartwarming" little story on a radio station this morning. The lady had been asked to sing the National Anthem at an Atlanta Braves Baseball game. Of course, you know what happened. She choked. No, literally...she coughed/choked on a word while singing the song.

Afterwards she received the applause of 40000 fans and pats on her back from her husband and friends. All she could think of though was how she blew one word/ one note. For days she beat herself up until she came to the realization that she hit 80 words and at least that many notes- perfectly. From that time forward she gave herself a break in the knowledge that she had been defining herself by the one bad moment instead of the 80 good ones.

My immediate reaction to her story was that I should give myself a break too and not define myself by one sin or one mistake or one blown judgement call.

But as I continued driving down the road I started thinking that... regardless of whatever positive attitude I can muster, the fact is that most of us are defined by our "defining moments".

Nobody remembers or even cares much what George Washington might have done on a day to day basis; he's remembered for Crossing the Delaware in the middle of the night or for braving the bitter cold of Valley Forge...you get the picture.

So...here I am somewhere in the middle. I'm in the middle of nowhere Mississippi helping my best friend in his Survey business. (I'm the genius that holds the red and white striped pole steady!). And maybe I'm between "defining moments" too. Time will tell.

One thing I think though is that most of us don't know when our "defining moments" will occur. I guess we just play the Boy Scout and put ourselves in a position to be prepared for when it happens. If I blow it I can still thank God for His grace and if I succeed then I can praise Him for His grace. Either way, he gets the glory.

The Mighty Mississippi

I grew up close enough to the Mississippi River to sneak over on my bike when I was way too little to be riding that far on my bike!

Later, I moved to Natchez, MS and graduated from High School there along the banks of the Mighty Mississip.

A lot of my Ukrainian friends know about the River. And in all fairness, Ukraine has a pretty sizeable river in the Dnieper (but not as big as the Mississippi).

So, in honor of them, I snapped a couple pictures as I was crossing the river in Natchez to day heading into Louisiana to spend Christmas Eve with my niece and her family.

O Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree. Ukrainians don't play!

I got to see the Christmas Tree going up in Independence Square today. I guess this is equivalent to the National Christmas Tree. It was fascinating. I'm guessing at least 100 feet tall- maybe the biggest artificial/live hybrid tree ever!!

The "trunk" was a tall steel structure, like a light pole. Fixed along the trunk were hollow pipes of decreasing lengths from bottom to top. Real trees were inserted into the pipes and also strapped to the trunk- in other words...whole, live trees are the "branches" of this artificial tree.

I hope they get it decorated and lit before I leave next week. Check it out!!