Life is good this time of year in Colorado. While we love our home state of Kentucky, the humidity and afternoon heat would often make eating dinner on the deck a bit uncomfortable. Here in Colorado Springs there is rarely a night during the summer that is not perfect and you will find the family gathering around the grill, on the deck for dinner more often than not.
Our home is a bit off the beaten path, nearly 7 miles to the closest grocery store. Couple that with being a large and active family, we would often find ourselves wanting to hit the grill in the evening but either having no suitable meat or a limited selection. This summer the problem has been solved. Some friends here in the Springs who share our passion for caring for the orphan and who have also spent years in the food packaging and distribution business have started a food services company that I want to share with you.
1c veg oil
1/2c lemon juice
1/4c prepared mustard
2 cloves garlic (minced)
3/4c soy sauce
1/4c worcestershire sauce
1-2t pepper
Shake all ingredients in a sealed jar or storage container. Marinate
chicken in refrigerator at least 1 hour before grilling.
Happy Independence Day!
It is with some regret that I share with you a commitment that I made a weak moment of my life. As many of you know our family has a passion to care for the orphan and I transitioned from the business world to work for HopeChest in
Fundraising is a critical component of my role here at HopeChest and we tend to get very creative when trying to gain support for our operations. In June of this year a couple of our volunteer supporters challenged our leadership to run a race in
I have to run it in a tutu!
I need to turn this humiliation into Kingdom Fruit! This is where you come in. I will be selling pictures of me crossing the finish line in the garb for the following:
Wallet = $ 25
5 X 7 = $ 100
8.5 X11 = $ 250
100% of the donation will support the HopeChest orphan care ministry and is tax deductible.
Please email me at rmudd@hopechest.org if you are inclined to order a photo and support HopeChest.
Over the past 5 days we have had one compelling opportunity followed by another. The team that has been lead on this trip to
We currently have 12 locations in central and north
I have seen the orphan in the depths of poverty in the Far East, Central America and
While the success of the trip is an answer to prayer and a result of hard work, the greatest testimony comes through the stories of lives, and hopefully generations, that are altered because the hands and feet of the Kingdom are responding to His call. I find that the pain and joy of this nation is best found by asking each person I encounter what is their dream for their life.
Imagine a 5 year old who is a 10 mile walk from the closest school but can articulate a plan, school names and his college preference even though he lives in a child headed home.
Imagine a grandmother who has lost all 7 of her children to HIV and at 70 years of age, not having eaten for over 3 days, takes care of 9 grandchildren in a 10 X 14 home.
Imagine a 23 year old who speaks 3 languages, has a 3 year old child, loves the Lord but has not been able to find any work for the past 3 years.
These are 3 real life stories that were encountered during our house visits today. God’s heart breaks for those created in His likeness.
Titus 3:8 says ‘I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people’.
‘Devote’ does not notate simply a spirit of compassion or feelings of sorrow for those in need, it compels one to action that is not contained in a ‘day of service’ but rather a commitment to living a life that holds others as more valuable than yourself and results in your life of charity and sacrifice sustainably meeting the needs of those in pain. This happens one life at a time. Do something now! God is bigger than the statistics.
additional blog to check out: knowntome.net
It is Thursday afternoon in
We arrived in
Our first stop this morning was Thembeni, which is sponsored by our friends at
It was critical that the team was able to see these progressive locations first as our next visit was to Ludlati. Ludlati is a field in a remote area serviced by roads that run through dry creeks. It was started approximately one year ago by a compassionate mother serving children from her home. It quickly outgrew her capacity and she has secured a large field that I would estimate at approximately 30 acres from the local chief. A large tree in the field is currently the only protection from the elements and marks the spot for a daily fire started in bush wood collected by the group of 4 women who assist her. There were no children in the field when we arrived but as soon as smoke from the fire became evident they walked through the thick covering of trees and bushes. In no time nearly 30 children arrived. They shared that there are a number of children 3 and below that walk up to 2 miles each day to come to the feeding. The most important element is in place, a Christ follower who wants to serve the children of her community and it is going to be another success story, I feel certain.
In all, we will visit 5 new targeted Carepoint locations and I am confident that this vision team will not rest until we are able to develop the base of support needed to have each of them sponsored. A number of these will be ‘Connect Communities’ which will provide YOU the opportunity to become a part of the solution. Be back in touch soon.
God is Good!
Friends,
I depart for Swaziland today with a great team of Christ followers. We will be coming alongside our friends at Adventures in Missions to work to expand our partnership with the children and communities in Swaziland that we work.
I will try to keep the blog with fresh udpates from the trip as it is possible. In the interim I would appreciate your prayer:
-Pray for the safety and effectiveness of the team.
-Pray for the support and encouragement of Jumbo, Kreik and the team.
-Pray that working with AIM that we are able to plan for significant and effective expansion of the ministry over the next 12 months.
-Pray that we remain acutely focused on Him from whom all good things come.
-Pray for the good health of Julie and the kids.
See you from Swazi.
Bob
Friends,
Last month, Brandi McElheny led a Children's HopeChest vision trip to Uganda. At about the same time, our Uganda Director, Joseph, was attacked by an angry mob while trying to deliver food to famine-stricken areas. Now, Brandi and CHC are joining forces to do something about it.
Find out more below. Give if you are able. Pick up the badge (code below) to spread the word.
Here's the post from Brandi's blog:
FEED THE FORGOTTEN
Too often we hear heartbreaking stories like this (that I posted on Saturday) and do nothing. We feel helpless. . . and so we move on. Not this time. There are people DYING in Uganda right now. There are children who's bellies are hungry and aching. There are mamas who are too weak to stand and babies begging to be held. There are people trapping termites hoping for food and eating dung in helplessness. DO NOT CAVE TO DESPAIR. YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.
Join us and Children's HopeChest to FEED THE FORGOTTEN!!! (CLICK HERE TO GIVE NOW) (note: please write FEED THE FORGOTTEN in the notes section)
For $0.14, we can (and WILL) feed someone a meal of posho and beans. (posho is cornmeal, which is filling and beans are protein). Take that in for a moment. . .
$0.14 a meal
$2.86 for 20 days
$1 per FAMILY
$20 feed a family for 20 days.
How much was my Chick Fil A yesterday? How much is your Starbucks? The bigger question is how much am I willing to give up SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT EAT?
Remember Jesus story of the Good Samaritan? Remember how his very neighbors walked right by him? They probably looked at him with pity. . .probably thought "oh poor guy, that breaks my heart" but the fact is THEY DID NOTHING.
What will you do? These children are starving. . .
these actual children. . .
will you help? The money raised will feed those precious children. There are 3 - 4 villages that we are targeting (I'm hoping for more after we see how much we can raise!) to bring food relief to asap. These people are literally starving. . and waiting for you to act. Will you help? Even with paypal fees (2-3%) even $1 will feed 6 people! You CAN make a difference.
Spread the word, blog about it, facebook it, twitter it, ask your church or school or business to give, post the blog badge anything. Truly, we are begging you. . .on behalf of these children not to forget this post and move on to the next in your google reader list. Stop, pray, act.
GIVE TO FEED THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN!!!!!
(note: please write FEED THE FORGOTTEN in the notes section when you give)
To GET the blog badge, copy and paste this code into your post (remember to switch to the "edit html" mode in your post), or add as a "widget" on your blog. Spread the word!
We are a family of seven on an adventure. We call it the Muddbus express.
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