“SISTERS OF SARAH”
A Mother’s Day Meditation

We are living in a time when femininity and womanhood are being redefined by educators, social scientists, political pundits and entertainers.  Increasingly, the traditional understandings of what it means to be an authentic woman, wife and mother are being challenged and redefined.  And while we continue to celebrate “Mother’s Day” in America, there is increasing confusion – even hostility – about traditional motherhood.

Patt and the children dedicating the new 'Dinning Hall' beside the Kitchen on our last trip to India

Dear Ministry Partners,

I am sending you this email to update you on an important project for the "Bethany Children's Home" (BCH).  It is on the India/Bhutan border in a city called Jaigaon.  As you know from my recent emails, Patt and I were there in March for a visit.  At that time we had the joy of dedicating a new "Dinning Hall" for the children.  It adjoins the new "Kitchen" that was built and dedicated last year.  Unfortunately we found that the wooden roof joists were eaten up by termites -- that attack any and all wood in that part of the world.  So we had to make a faith decision on the spot to replace the roof with a poured cement one.  By faith, our ministry sent the $1,700 to start the project.  Now those funds have been fully used in the preparation for the final phase of pouring the cement -- as you can see from these pictures. 

"…Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood."

(Heb. 13:12)

Dear Ministry Partners,

As you know, I have just returned from a long weekend of ministry in Haiti over Easter.  When I landed in Port-au-Prince on Maundy Thursday, I received a text message from Patt saying that our 9 year old twin grandson, Luke, had been flown by Life-Flight to UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill.  By now, I hope you have read the update that Patt and I sent out.  Needless to say, this family crisis brought the Easter message home to me in a very personal way!  But God was faithful and sustained me.  More importantly, He graciously spared Luke's life – who is still in recovery.

EASTER ON THE EDGE

While my days in Haiti were brief, they were diverse and intense.  Through the years, I have almost always been away from home for Easter – on some strategic spiritual battlefront.  In the early days of the New Directions, we usually 'hit the beaches' to share the Easter Message with thousands of college students – who were soaking up sun, sand, suds and sex!  In later years, I was either in India, Nepal, or Africa celebrating Easter with one of our strategic national partners.  This year, I was in Haiti to celebrate with the earthquake victims.  While I have ministered in Haiti over Easter a number of times in the past, it was especially timely because of the killer earthquake of January 12, 2010. 

Dear Friends & Partners,

Loving greetings from Haiti.  I had a joyous Good Friday service at this tent on a hillside outside Port-au-Prince.  It is called Onaville.  Before the earthquake, this hillside was barren of trees and people.  Now over 500,000 people live here in a make-shift shanty town.  My friend and partner, Esperandiru Pierre started a ministry here with a small tent doing medical and social work.  A church was also started -- which I had the privilege of preaching at on my last visit for their first official service.  They quickly over-flowed the first tent --which was replaced by this larger one -- which is also overflowing.  We hope to build a large permanent church for them before year's end.  I will preach here again on Easter Sunday morning to another packed tent!  Thanks for your prayers.

When I landed in Haiti I received a text from Patt saying that our twin grandson, Luke had been life flighted to Chapel Hill with menengittis.  Obviously my heart sunk!  I wanted to get on the next flight home.  But due to the holidays that was impossible.  However  after talking to Patt on the phone -- and my son Jonathan, they felt I should stay unless Luke got worse.  Right now he is stable and on antibiotics.  My heart continues to be torn between being back home and being here with these earthquake victims -- who have also been through unimaginable trauma and tragedy.   And Jonathan understands this well as a father and doctor since he came to Haiti with me after the earthquake to do medical work.  So we all covet your prayers as we walk though This family crisis by faith.

In His resurrection love and power,
JL

“Go into the village…find a donkey and a colt…

bring them to Me…the Lord has need of them.”

Matt. 21:2-3)

Dear Friends & Partners,

This past week Christians around the world celebrated Palm Sunday.  It’s the beginning of Holy Week when we commemorate Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey amidst shouts of “Hosannas.”  It was Jesus’ last day of public popularity.  In just a few days the fickled crowds would become hostile and cry out for His blood!  The donkey would be traded for a cross.  By Friday, the burden-bearer would be Jesus.  The donkey would not be carrying Christ – Christ would be carrying the cross.  He would not be on a donkey’s back – but a cross would be on His back!