Oh, this is SO exciting. 

I already posted here about sending money to people in Haiti via Compassion International.

Now…another way to help!  Crystal (Money Saving Mom) has issued a challenge of sorts.  I decided to join in to help raise a little bit more money for families in Haiti.

Here’s where you come in.  Figure out something you can do to help the hurting people of Haiti.  Anything. 

• Can you give up coffee or soda or another special treat for a month…then donate the money you would have spent on that treat to people in Haiti?
• Can you put off buying that special splurge item and send some money to Haiti instead?
• Can you save a few dollars in groceries this month by eating from your pantry and freezer stockpile?   It may not be as exciting, but the money you save could go toward people who need food and water in Haiti.
• Can you sell a few items you don’t need anymore and send the money to Haiti?
• Can you gather your children into the room, show them Haiti on the map, talk about the situation and pray together?

Prayerfully consider what you and your family can do.  It may not be much.  It may be a lot. 

I dare say…any little thing you can do IS a lot. 

And if you don’t have any extra money right now and “all you can do is pray”…oh please, please pray.  What a wonderful gift you’ll be giving these families.

Blog about what you’ve already done, what you are in the process of doing or what you plan to do to help.  Then come link up here on this post.

For everyone who links up…I’ll donate $.50 to Compassion International for the children in Haiti.  (If there are 100 links…that’s $50!!)

Beyond that, for every single comment left on this blog post…I’ll donate an additional $.25.

It doesn’t really sound like much.  It actually sounds like a rather pitiful amount.  Oh, but if you all get busy blogging and leaving comments…it could really add up! 

I hope you blow my socks off!  I hope so many of you link up and leave comments that I have to raid my kids’ wallets  eat beans and rice for a month! 

No really…thanks to all the canning and preserving and stocking up I’ve done…we’re good around here on food for a long while.  It’s  absolutely humbling.  THAT is the very reason I want to do this.  Parents in Haiti are struggling to even find a bit of fresh water for their babies.  And I’m sitting here with a freezer full of strawberries (and oh so much more).

Start praying, writing, linking and commenting!

OH, and visit Crystal’s site and link up there too!  She and her husband are donating $10 for each link!!!!!  Wonderful!

Because of the recent and horrific devastation caused by the earthquakes in Haiti, Compassion International is asking (pleading) for help.

Can you help?

Maybe some of you are already sponsoring a child through Compassion International.  I wrote more about it here and urged you to consider monthly sponsorship if you and your family are able.  Sponsoring a child through Compassion International has been a rich experience for us.

Now, with the urgent needs in Haiti, they have an even more important and immediate need.  There are more than 65,000 children involved in the Compassion International program in Haiti.  They need food, clothes and shelter…right now.

As my boys and I talk through the situation in Haiti and pray together for the children and their families, I feel both a peace and a panic.  A peace, knowing that God is in Haiti, loving the people there, taking care of them, comforting them.  And a panic, knowing that while my family sits here safely together in our warm home with our bellies full there are millions of people in Haiti who don’t even know where some of their family members are…or if they are still alive.

The thought brings me to my knees.

My feelings of panic won’t help the Haitians, but putting myself in their shoes and trying to understand what life must be like for them right now helps make me more aware of their needs.  I’d want people to pray for my family…and I’d want to be able to feed my children.

So…we’re praying…and we’re giving some money.  Because we have everything we need (plus about 2.4 million things we don’t).  We can help these families.

I’d hope you’ll pray about how you can help the people in Haiti.  And if you can give…please, please do.

You can trust that Compassion International will use EVERY PENNY of your donation for relief in Haiti.  I love that.

Thank you so much for considering this.

As we’ve seen as we go through this series, there are so many things we as women can do to minister to others without neglecting what absolutely should be our main ministry:  our families.  If you haven’t already, be sure to catch up on the rest of this series here.

Today I want to talk about a different ministry opportunity:  Compassion International.  I love this organization for so many reasons…

• I trust them.  If we’re going to give our money “to help children” we want it to help children.  With Compassion International, you can trust that it will.  I love that.
• Not only are they working to meet a child’s basic physical needs…they teach the child (and family) about Jesus.  They are truly feeding the children.
• They make it easy to sponsor a child.  They communicate well and their program is just “user friendly”.  
• This ministry is perfect for you and your family to work at together!

We chose to sponsor a little boy a few months ago (yes go figure…we chose a little boy!).  The entire experience has been delightful for us.  We picked someone who practically shares a birthday with Asa.  That made him seem even more real to the boys. 

We looked on the globe to see where he lives and learned about his country.  His picture is on our refrigerator.  We get to sit down and write him letters together.  We pray for him together.  The boys ask us questions about him from time to time.  I love that they have a “brother” across the globe.  I think they love it too.

If you have a few minutes…take the time to watch this video.

And then consider if sponsoring a child through Compassion International is a ministry that you and your family could take on together.  You won’t regret it.
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If any of you have experiences with Compassion International that you can tell about…please share in the comments!

Be sure to catch up on this entire series here. 

One of my favorite ways to serve is with FOOD.  Eventually I’ll share some of the ways I use food as a ministry, but today, I wanted to share these ideas sent in by two of my readers…

Nancy’s ministry:  I love to bake bread from scratch.  I bought a grain mill a few months ago so now I can even grind my own grain and then bake my bread.  =)  Anyway, when I bake bread I bake double what my family needs and then give the extra loaves away.  I live in an apartment complex and so have lots of neighbors with whom I can share.  People really appreciate it and I can sure tell that they are surprised that someone would give them something with no strings attatched.  =)
 
That’s my way of reaching out while I have 2 young children at home and no car to take me out into the big wide world.

Serenity’s ministry (as told by her mother Jill):   

Our daughter really wanted to reach out and serve others but felt that her primary ministry was her husband and children.  She decided on a wonderful ministry that would give her the ability to reach out but not neglect her young family.  She called the local Ronald McDonald house and asked if they could use a homemade meal once a month for the guests there.  They were quite happy to receive that call. 

Ronald McDonald houses allow families that have a very ill child in the local hospital to stay for a very small fee per night. It is set up like a home. They can come and go as they please. There is a kitchen for them to use while they are there. They are almost always very close to the hospital so the families can walk which is very handy for them.  Many of these families are facing lengthy hospital stays with critically ill children. 

So, our daughter would make a delicious meal that included homemade bread or rolls, a yummy dessert along with the main course. She is a fabulous cook so she really out did herself.  She would cook while the babies were  napping.  When her hubby got home from work she would pack it all up and take it over to the house.  I am so proud of her for finding a way to serve while still having young children.  I am certain the families were blessed by eating a good home cooked meal.

What other ways have you been able to serve others with food?

Catch up on this series here.

Several weeks ago, I threw out the question to you…What are YOU doing to minister to others?  I loved hearing from you and plan to share your ministry ideas as I can.  I hope reading these will inspire you all toward searching for how God can use you best!

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Kathy wrote:  I have the distinct pleasure of working with women who are recovering from different forms of abuse.  Specifically so far it is just domestic violence and sexual abuse.  We hope to expand to as many different types of recovery as possible (Eating disorder, grief, divorce, infidelity….the list is endless.  We are all recovering from something and need spiritual support along the way).  It is amazing to see the sovereignty of God in the lives of these women who have endured so much!  My “job” is mainly to train leaders who have been through this type of abuse to lead spiritual support groups for those who are in the midst of recovery.

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Jeannie wrote:  I am still trying to figure out how to balance mothering, being a wife and serving God in a meaningful way.  To that end, my son Roman signed up to serve in a local nursing home.  We will help with Bingo for the first time on Monday – my true hope is that we can in some way participate in reading the Bible or singing with the residents.  I also believe it is vitally important for my son to understand the circle of life and serve those who go before him.

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Jennifer wrote:  I have found hospitality to be a great way to minister to others while having little ones at home (I have a 4-year-old, 2-year-old, and a 15-month-old).  Our major focus has been a dinner before a church meeting on Wednesdays.  We have at least 4 people over, often ones we don’t know (or even know they were coming!).  This is followed by a prayer meeting we host twice a month with around 40 people.  Mind you, we have a 1400 sq. ft. house!  We’ve also had a kid’s klub in our home, though my children aren’t at the age to really be involved.

I think too often mothers of little ones get caught up in their own lives and the lives of their children.  Having people over regularly, and none of them being moms, has challenged me and forced me to think about others.  My children help cook and clean for our company, and have built relationships with others we might not have ever talked to before.  It also allows some in our fellowship to be hospitable when they couldn’t otherwise (they invite people to our house).

This form of ministry is not easy for me; it is a sacrifice.  Our home is small and gets “invaded” every week.  My husband makes very little money and feeding all these people stretches us.  But, it is a way we can serve the Lord now.  And it is a way my children can begin to serve others along with us.

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Laura has an ENTIRE BLOG dedicated to sharing how she and her son minister together.  Please go check out Willy Toole!!!

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I plan to share more of your ideas in the coming weeks!  (Thanks for your patience as I work my way through them!)  I LOVE reading what you’re doing for God’s kingdom!  If any of the rest of you would like to share your ministry, please email me!  (laura at heavenlyhomemakers.com)

I have several friends who have opened up their home to foster children…many have even adopted some of their foster children.  I’ve watched my friends struggle, hurt, be completely worn out, and continue to love on these kids.

I am absolutely convinced that being a foster parent is not for everyone.  But, since we’re talking about how we as women can minister from our homes, I asked my good friend Tana to share her story with us. 

For those of us who do not choose foster parenting, at least we can be made more aware of how we can pray for those who do.

Here’s Tana:

My husband and I spent 8 years fostering. We have adopted 2 children during the course of those years. Our oldest child is 25 and our youngest is 9.

We thought we were done having children when our biological children were 3, 14 and 16. I had read an article about children in orphanages in Romania and was literally brought to tears for the condition of these babies. I spent 2 more years praying for the safety of our next child and doing research on adoption. Eventually we decided a less romantic, but more feasible way to adopt was through the state’s Fos- Adopt program.

We finished foster parent training classes on a Friday night and I told the caseworkers I wanted a baby. They practically laughed and told me, “Tana, we rarely get babies, and if we do, they’ve been badly damaged.” I went home feeling very discouraged. But God is good, and on Monday morning we got a call that a newborn baby boy was to be dismissed from the hospital and needed a Fos-Adopt home. We scurried around trying to find things for a nursery and they brought a beautiful baby to me that very day.

Now am I going to leave you with that beautiful happy moment? No, sorry, that only happens in the movies. I soon came to realize that fos-adopt did not mean easy-adopt. The way the state works for children in foster care was far from my romantic dreams about adopting a child. We spent the next 3 years fighting for that baby’s life with us. I walked the floor with him at night praying for his future. During the days I wrote letters to the Governor, legislature and legal figures. The Lord had answered my prayers, but not without holding me to the fire for His purpose.

I wanted a quick adoption, but God had other things in mind for us. While we waited we had several opportunities to promote change in the laws governing foster care and adoption in the state of Nebraska.

We went to court date after court date, right up to an appeal with the Nebraska Supreme Court before our adoption was complete. That baby’s middle name is now Samuel which means, God has heard. He has never been hurt outside of a skinned knee. He has never seen a drunken or psychotic parent (okay, briefly psychotic), and he has never gone to bed hungry. He is a well adjusted, happy little boy.

We went on to foster more children and to adopt one more time. The second time we adopted an 11 year old girl that had been badly damaged. After the adoption that we thought would make her feel secure, she was suddenly threatened by her permanency. She has severe reactive attachment syndrome, which love and security is not enough to heal. For 2 years we tried different methods to help her attach. Her behaviors became increasingly alarming and dangerous for herself and the other children. She fought the adoption, fought the idea of having parents, and continues to fight all those around her that want to help her.

My heart, is of course, broken. She is in a residential treatment center now, and will probably need the structure of that kind of care for a long time. I am sad that she will not accept what we have offered her, but I am reminded that God adopts all of us. Even though we are given everything we need, we sometimes reject Him and refuse that love. But he stays constant.

When Laura asked me to write about our ministry in fostering I had some reservations to say the least. We no longer foster. All of our energy is put into getting services for this child who will not be loved. I found myself wanting to say “Don’t do it!”

But God did not call us to second guess what he asks us to do. I had to remember that the Bible says, “All things work together for good for those that love the Lord.” Even though I do not understand how the problems we are facing in our life right now can be woven together for good, I believe what He says, and I trust that this too will work together for Him. Because of our earlier trials, I have been refined, possibly to make me strong enough for this battle. So of course, I said, “Yes, I will write an article about the ministry of adoption and foster care!”

I would like to tell you that this is a ministry that we all should do, but it is not. It is a ministry for few. It needs to be approached with much prayer, and full knowledge that the road is a rough one. Adopting and fostering are often heart wrenching, full of fear and disappointment along the way. I have also come to realize that it is a journey that requires rest as well. Deciding to stop fostering was just as prayerful for me as beginning the journey.

One of our biological kids has Asperger’s Syndrome, which also requires much from us. I now home school him and his brother. I struggled to give myself permission to stop fostering and focus on the children who God has entrusted to me. The nature of fostering is so exhausting that few do it for a life time.

It is important to know your limitations if you decide to foster, it is okay to say no to caring for a child that is beyond your ability to help. Your own children must come first. Position in the family must be preserved by choosing age mates and gender wisely. You must remember not to choose children who can victimize your children in any way, because you can’t take it back if an innocent is hurt. You must protect your mate and not put him/her in a vulnerable position. And you must nurture yourself as well as others.
There are other ways to help kids in need without fostering. Some of these include being a CASA (court appointed special advocate), providing respite care for foster families, being involved in the Big Brother program, and speaking out when you see an injustice in the system.

We still have former foster children that call us or stop by from time to time, because they care about what we think. Many of them have gone back to the dysfunction they began with. Some have been adopted by another family or relative. Others have aged out of the system and have children of their own.

Sometimes we feel that what we did was for naught, but I cannot tell what God will decide to do with the seeds we planted. Sometimes all we could do was to show a child that there was a better way, a way that involves God in our decision making, and solving conflict without drugs, strife and abuse. We hope that someday they will remember a family that showed God to them a long time ago.

In Christ, Tana

My friend Kim organizes a clothing exchange twice a year at our church for anyone in the community to come and get free clothing for their families.  It has been a HUGELY successful ministry and SUCH a practical and obvious opportunity to bless people around us.

I love this “Mommy Ministry” and asked her to write some details about it for you.

Here’s Kim:

HOW IT BEGAN:

As a first time Mom, I was overwhelmed with the task and expense of keeping my daughter clothed in the correct season and size. Several other moms in our congregation mentioned that they had things I could use. So it came to mind to organize an exchange. It began as a group of Moms getting together with the things they would be willing to part with (or loan) to someone else in the congregation.

An exchange of children’s clothes grew into what is now a community event. Twice a year, in April and October, we take donations of any size or season of clothing, shoes, coats, boots, and bedding to freely distribute to the people of the church first, and the community second.

ORGANIZATION:

The fun begins on the Wednesday evening preceding the Saturday event when tables and clothing racks are set up and all the donations are brought in from their storage area.

Thursday morning, the sorting begins. With all the rows labeled, each person can take a bag or box and put the appropriate items on the appropriate tables.  This generally continues all day Thursday and Friday with breaks for meals.  Clothing from size newborn up to adult are sorted, organized, hung and folded.

Friday evening, the congregation is invited to come and take what they can use. Then Saturday morning from 8-12, the doors are open to the public. People can come and take what they can use without restrictions or strings attached.  As people walk in the door, they are given an empty bag and asked if there is anything specific they are looking for. If there is, they are guided to that area. If not, we point out the labels for each row and let them begin the hunt. At the end of the event, leftovers are boxed and given to a local thrift store or charity, as they are available and willing to take them.

THE REASON BEHIND IT: I cannot tell you how rewarding this project has become. It allows us to make contact with people in the community that we might not otherwise meet. It allows us to meet needs without people having to ask, thus allowing them to maintain some dignity. Plus, it allows us to clothe our families for little to no expense. Most importantly, though, it allows me to do what Jesus commanded and clothe those who are “naked”. Who knows, maybe he or one of his angels have been through those doors a time or two and picked up a couple of things!
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If you’re interested in organizing a clothing exchange ministry similar to this one, email me and I’ll send you more information.  No need for you to re-invent the wheel when she’s already got a wonderful detailed explanation of how to run an event like this one!

Also, I’ve already heard from several of you telling me what ministry you’re involved in.  If you haven’t shared your ministry ideas with me yet, please email me! (laura @ heavenlyhomemakers.com)
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Thanks Kim for taking the time to share this with us! 
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Sharing what we have is definitely a finer thing, don’t you think?

Please welcome our guest poster today, my friend Jill.  She’s been a mentor to me for several years and I asked her to share her thoughts on ministry with you… 
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First, let me say thank you to Laura for giving me the opportunity to write for her blog. I have known Laura several  years. Our husbands were ministers together back in Security, Colorado.  I counted her precious mother as my friend.  She was a wonderful example to me. Laura was blessed with such a godly example of true womanhood.  She is now carrying on her mother’s legacy of service.  
 
Just a bit about myself before we begin since none of you know me.  I have been married to the same guy for over 31 years.  We have been blessed with 6 boys and 1 girl.  We are in full time ministry here in Michigan.  We have had 30 foster children over the years.  Three of our children are grown and gone and have their own families now.  We have 4 granddaughters and one grandson. 

The question then about “ministry” is near and dear to my heart.  Laura started out this series by saying our husbands and children ARE our ministry.  That is probably the hardest concept for us Type A’s to wrap our brains around.  If we fail at these two tasks we have lost.  I have seen this concept abused.  Some women feel that they can never reach out to others because it will get in the way of their main ministry.  Their children in particular become everything to them, a kind of idol worship if you will.   Their children and their children’s accomplishments define these moms.  How very sad.  Our children are given to us a gift and as a loan.  Trust me, we only get them for a little while. Some of us have had the gut wrenching experience of having our children taken from us much too early.  We have a limited time to instill a servants heart in these precious gifts called children.

My husband and I recently discussed once again my role outside the home.  We are in full time ministry. I have been a stay at home mom now for 31 years.   There is SO much I want to get done. We have an active ministry in the women’s shelter in town.  There are so many ladies who need mentoring and the gospel shared with them. We have ladies in our congregation that need encouragement, they also need study of God’s word.  I still have three boys left at home. We have been homeschooling now for years and years and you get the idea  :).  I have only 5 years left to instill in these boys everything we hold to be true and dear to us.  I get easily distracted.  It is easy to hand them their work and then go off and study with some woman who “needs me”.   Each time I have to be kicked in pants (figuratively) and focused once again to the task at hand.  

We want our boys to have a servants heart,  so how do we balance that with the task of running the house and raising these boys?  God  came up with a great solution.  He  laid on my heart after one of the discussions with my hubby that I can still be an encouragement to the ladies through the internet.  I could write a daily devotional about a particular scripture and its application for us*.  What a great idea. I can still make a difference in the lives of the women I serve by reaching out to them through the blogosphere.    What a great feeling to know that I am not neglecting my husband and children but still serving those along with my children I feel called to serve. 

Ladies, we want to raise Godly children that have a heart for serving. That is my passion.  There are many creative ways to minister. These are just some of the ways that I have found to be a blessing.  My hubby reminds me that in just 5 short years I will have all the time I want to minister outside of these walls.  I already know that it is SO worth it to invest in your children.  All of my older children are such a blessing. Each in their own way reaches out and serves those who need it. I will never regret all the years I have spent serving them.  When I get home I just want to hear those sweet words of the Master, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.” 
 
God Bless each of you as you look to ways to “minister”.
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*I receive Jill’s email devotional thought in my inbox each weekday morning and find them to be so encouraging!  If you would like to be included in this list, please email her (jill6758 at cablespeed.com)  You won’t be sorry!

Also…if you are involved in a ministry that does not take away from your important role as wife/mother…please email me (laura at heavenlyhomemakers.com).  I’d love for you to share your great ministry ideas here!

To those of us with children…. 

Here’s what I’ve discovered as I’ve been trying to love on and minister to others while I raise kids:  Kids make it easier.

Usually. 

Sometimes they make it harder.  (Like, it’s harder to load everyone up and take everyone to an event when you have a nursing baby and two in diapers and one who’s potty training and one with a runny nose…)  Your family comes FIRST, so make sure you’re meeting their needs first before you run out and start ministering to others.

But…if you have kids…please don’t use that excuse to avoid all other ministries.  There are simple ministries you can be involved in and your kids can make it easier for you because their cute little selves can break the ice with the people you’re ministering to.  They give you something to talk about besides the weather. 

In case you missed it, I wanted to share Kari’s comment from this post: 

Let’s not miss the fact that our children are little ministers too: children with a mission.  I find all the time that my baby is a “conversation starter” if you will. I get to say things like, “I am so blessed to have this baby in my life” and “God is so good” just in response to some simple questions about the cute kid in my cart.

So, if you have kids…minister with them.  

The first time I realized that kids were little ministers was on a tragic day that our friend’s husband was killed in a farming accident.  Asa was a baby at the time and we went to see the grieving family.  I was trying my hardest to keep Asa quiet and still in my arms while we hugged the family and visited.  Finally I decided to put him down to crawl because he was getting restless in my arms.  He immediately crawled over the the woman who had just lost her husband.  Inwardly I cringed, thinking that the last thing this woman needed was a wiggly nine month old to crawl into her lap and slobber on her.

She reached down and picked him up, snuggled him, talked to him…and then guess what she did?  She smiled.  

Asa, as a nine month old innocent baby, brought joy and comfort to this woman who had just lost her husband.

After that moment, I have worked to involve my kids as much as I can when I do something for others.

If you are taking a meal to someone, let them help you cook.  Talk with them about what you are doing.  Ask them questions like, “We’re taking dinner to Johnny’s family.  What kind of yummy food do you think Johnny would like?” 

Encourage them to make cards for people.  Who wouldn’t love a homemade card from your kids?

Help them learn to be comfortable around older people and sick people.

Use wisdom of course in involving your kids….but I really think that the best way they will learn to see people’s needs and meet them is by watching you and working with you.  By the time they are adults, serving others will be natural to them.

Have you found that your kids (or someone else’s kids) are good conversation starters when you visit with people?  What are some ways you’ve involved your kids in ministries?
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Join Amy for Finer Things Friday.