Friday, October 19, 2007
Got Faith?
GOT FAITH?
Two weeks ago during my weekly Wednesday women’s Bible study I was challenged and thought that I would share it with you. The faith of my friend Joyce brought me to tears as I shared her situation with Luke. This small worn woman has 5 children and no husband to be found. Each child has a different father and each father has had a different reason for leaving Joyce and her children. She likes to cut and style hair so she has used her talent to provide a small but inconsistent living. She was just kicked out of her 2-room home and was left in the bush with only a prayer to keep her going. She sat on the floor of her home as she was gathering her belongings to move and she cried and prayed to God for a home to keep her children safe. Later that day a friend told her of a one-room home with no roof that she could move into. She was grateful but a little saddened by its condition. She also explained to me that she had been told that there was a lot of witchcraft going on in that area. The neighbors warned her of a huge snake that had been seen and that it would swallow up her children in the night. She knew this was from Satan to try to steal her joy and her home from her again. She decided not to let Satan discourage her and scare her but moved into the home with faith and confidence in God her provider.
The first night she lay on the floor with her children all asleep around her and looked up at the stars and thanked God for his provision and prayed for protection over her family. Over the next few days the children were very sick with malaria from all the mosquitoes at night, but she was thankful for no snake attack. Joyce’s faith was so strong as she shared her story with me. As I was listening to her I was reminded that this is life here in Zambia. She is grateful for what little she has and believes in God for her daily bread and protection. I was challenged by her trust and reliance in Christ. I had to ask myself the question: would I react the same way in her situation? Am I so quick to complain about my problems? And they aren’t even half as bad or desperate as Joyce’s problems. I thank God for these women that He has brought into my path. They have shown me, very practically what a deeper reliance on Christ looks like.
The next day after hearing this story, we had our first rainfall in over 7 months. I woke up praying for Joyce and that God would provide for her and her kids during the storm. I wished that I could help her, but new that only God could provide at that moment. The next week I told her I was praying for her during the storm and I asked her how everything was going. It was a blessing to hear that my prayers had been answered even at 3am in the morning. The neighbor invited Joyce and her kids to come inside their home and they put up a temporary tarp on the small house as soon as the storm passed. God is our provider! I am so thankful that He has made himself so faithful to Joyce. She was so thankful for my prayers and a little taken back that I had remembered her that early in the morning!!!! Only God gets the praise and glory!!!! Soon we hope to help her put a new roof on her home and love on her the best we know how. I hope that you are challenged by Joyce’s faith like I have been and I hope to share more of what God continues to do in her life. God bless all of you and may God show himself more real to you every day as you rely on Him more and more!!!
God is Good Always,
Elise
Ps—As promised long ago we finally have our blog up and running. We are hoping to keep written updates, along with pictures, posted on a regular basis. Click to included address to view: www.whitfieldwateringhole.blogspot.com
Two weeks ago during my weekly Wednesday women’s Bible study I was challenged and thought that I would share it with you. The faith of my friend Joyce brought me to tears as I shared her situation with Luke. This small worn woman has 5 children and no husband to be found. Each child has a different father and each father has had a different reason for leaving Joyce and her children. She likes to cut and style hair so she has used her talent to provide a small but inconsistent living. She was just kicked out of her 2-room home and was left in the bush with only a prayer to keep her going. She sat on the floor of her home as she was gathering her belongings to move and she cried and prayed to God for a home to keep her children safe. Later that day a friend told her of a one-room home with no roof that she could move into. She was grateful but a little saddened by its condition. She also explained to me that she had been told that there was a lot of witchcraft going on in that area. The neighbors warned her of a huge snake that had been seen and that it would swallow up her children in the night. She knew this was from Satan to try to steal her joy and her home from her again. She decided not to let Satan discourage her and scare her but moved into the home with faith and confidence in God her provider.
The first night she lay on the floor with her children all asleep around her and looked up at the stars and thanked God for his provision and prayed for protection over her family. Over the next few days the children were very sick with malaria from all the mosquitoes at night, but she was thankful for no snake attack. Joyce’s faith was so strong as she shared her story with me. As I was listening to her I was reminded that this is life here in Zambia. She is grateful for what little she has and believes in God for her daily bread and protection. I was challenged by her trust and reliance in Christ. I had to ask myself the question: would I react the same way in her situation? Am I so quick to complain about my problems? And they aren’t even half as bad or desperate as Joyce’s problems. I thank God for these women that He has brought into my path. They have shown me, very practically what a deeper reliance on Christ looks like.
The next day after hearing this story, we had our first rainfall in over 7 months. I woke up praying for Joyce and that God would provide for her and her kids during the storm. I wished that I could help her, but new that only God could provide at that moment. The next week I told her I was praying for her during the storm and I asked her how everything was going. It was a blessing to hear that my prayers had been answered even at 3am in the morning. The neighbor invited Joyce and her kids to come inside their home and they put up a temporary tarp on the small house as soon as the storm passed. God is our provider! I am so thankful that He has made himself so faithful to Joyce. She was so thankful for my prayers and a little taken back that I had remembered her that early in the morning!!!! Only God gets the praise and glory!!!! Soon we hope to help her put a new roof on her home and love on her the best we know how. I hope that you are challenged by Joyce’s faith like I have been and I hope to share more of what God continues to do in her life. God bless all of you and may God show himself more real to you every day as you rely on Him more and more!!!
God is Good Always,
Elise
Ps—As promised long ago we finally have our blog up and running. We are hoping to keep written updates, along with pictures, posted on a regular basis. Click to included address to view: www.whitfieldwateringhole.blogspot.com
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Whitfield Family Update September 25th
Dear Family and Friends.We are officially moved back into our home in town and are enjoying the conveniences of being close to our fellow missionaries and also the grocery store. The kids are adjusting well and Payton loves his bunk beds and the girls love not having to share a room with him!!! We are looking forward to seeing how God uses this new location to reach more Zambians and for ministry in this new neighborhood.
Emma is looking forward to her 5th birthday on Thursday and we are having a little surprise party for her on Thursday afternoon. We have also started school back up this week and love our new Son Light curriculum. The girls are enjoying school and I feel much more organized this year!!! Thanks to all you mom’s for your encouragement and advice!!! Payton is adjusting to sitting still for longer amounts of time, but oh boy does he get excited when he is set free out into the yard to climb his favorite Mango tree!
The weather continues to get warmer and warmer and we enjoyed the nice cool pool and game drive outing with our fellow ACTION missionaries last Saturday! It’s been so awesome to enjoy the wild life here and the kids liked getting to sit on an elephant and feed her a snack. We also saw lions, zebras, baboon, warthog, kudu and much more.
The family adjustments we have experienced this month have been very positive and we are so thankful to God for His strength and guidance through them all. God has continually shown his faithfulness to us over these almost 8 months now here in Zambia.
We also have included some photos of our family at a compound church where Luke preached. The church is located in the compound of Chaisa and is an amazing body of believers. Pastor Mark Mwale (who I am standing with in one of the pictures) is an amazing man of God who, despite little financial resources, has taken in many orphans and children in crisis. He is such an example of how the joy of the Lord is our strength as he constantly has a huge smile and exuberant personality. The most amazing thing about Pastor Mwale’s congregation is their generosity and sacrificial giving. After Luke finished his sermon the pastor presented our family with gifts, note the head attire and traditional skirt I am wearing, and on a previous occasion took a love offering for Luke. To put this in perspective the congregation’s weekly tithe is roughly $20 and they gave almost a quarter of it to Luke as a gift. Needless to say we are completely humbled and convicted as we experience those that have so little giving so much.
This morning I was reminded during my quiet time to ABIDE in Christ. Such a small word with such great promise. Psalm 91:1&2 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall ABIDE in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; my God in Him will I trust.’” What a promise we have when we abide only in Him!!!
Lastly, I want to share John 15:4-9 which also was challenging to me and hope it is the same to you. “ABIDE in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it ABIDES in the vine, neither can you, unless you ABIDE in Me. I am the Vine and you are the branches. He who ABIDES in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not ABIDE in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you ABIDE in Me, and my word ABIDES in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so that you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; ABIDE in My love.”
May we all ABIDE more closely to Him beginning today!!
God Bless,
Elise
for all 5 and ½ Whitfield’s!!!
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