misadventures and divine intervention

kelly and i are getting ready for the excursion to Russia. we've been working closely with Children's Hope Chest in Colorado Springs, CO, since last year to get the ball rolling on a project just north of Moscow. CHC funds and revitalizes orphanages with money from churches and private companies to raise the standard of living for the kids that are there. they provide better food and quality teachers to give the kids the best chance at making it in the outside world. CHC also has a 'ministry center' for the kids who have 'graduated' from the orphanages. they can go there to get off the streets and get some training for local jobs. our plan is to work with the ministry center to establish a coffee house in their basement. this will create an environment of welcome-ness and allow the kids to have a place to express their talents (the russians are an extremely talented crew of folks. God has gifted them amazingly. the sad thing is that, as a people under communism, they have been so oppressed and not given the encouragement to develop those gifts. we are hoping to give them a boost).

i've done a lot of seeking over the last year about why the door is open for us to Russia. this voice in my head keeps bringing up the question about why we're not doing it here in the States. the more i've thought on it, the deeper the conviction goes that, in light of the rest of the world's standards, we Americans are truly spoiled. there's a sense that we've been given such great financial wealth to steward and so many of us are wasting it on ourselves and needless crap. i want to be able to do something for some folks who can really use my cash. not in the "i'm the American here to save you from you poor self" kind of way, but in the genuine, "i don't know why, but i was born in America with an incredible wealth to steward and i really do not think it is meant for me alone" kind of way.

so, here we go. CHC is getting things in line. we're waiting for a few things to be completed on our end and after that the ball will roll with the mighty force of the hand of God. i want to be local. i want friends to know God through me. i want to be transient and for strangers to hear is voice, too. i want to be global and for his heartbeat to pulse through me throughout this incredible world. God, make me a funnel. Not a funnel cake, more like the thing we use to put oil in our cars. You've got so much to give.