We heard a sermon on the Magnificat this past weekend. This is one of my favourite passages of Scripture. The pastor opened it up in a new way and as a result I can now argue Mary would have been one of the top quizzers if she had been in Old Testament Bible Quizzing.
The entire song in Luke 1:46-55 is taken from different passages in the Old Testament. This isn't so unusual. What is unusual is that SHE KNEW THEM ALL. Why? Why would she know them all? She studied them. She memorized them. She was taught them by her parents. As a result, she was found righteous. Scripture had transformed her life. God looked down on her and saw a young girl (the pastor argued she could have been as young as 13) who would have understood the message the angel was bringing to her. It wouldn't have been a shock entirely because she knew all the prophesies about a coming Saviour. The shock would have been that in her humility God had chosen her, a humble peasant girl.
I was just loving this entire sermon so much. I started listening to it through the eyes of a young girl, or even just a young person. They were sitting all around me. I came home so fired up to share it with those who hadn't been able to make it. But even those who had been there, I wanted them to hear how I had heard it. It had struck me in the middle of the sermon how critical Bible Quizzing and the memorizing of Scripture is and could be for their future. If Mary had been like a typical teenager of her time, not caring about the Lord or about the importance of Scripture, she could have missed out on being the mother of Jesus!
I kept thinking about this. The pastor described how initially a FACT was given to her, "You will conceive in your womb and bear a son". This then moved her to FAITH, "let it be to me according to your word". Then the FEELING came. In fact her heart nearly exploded with joy as she sings the Magnificat, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant...."
How many times do we do it the other way around? Or, dare I say, a young teenage girl, thinks the other way around. Instead of knowing the facts of Scripture, they only dwell on how they feel. That's when it occurred to me how the entire sermon could have been written just for a teen girl. Mary's life, as a young girl in her early teens, was such a role model for how to live a godly life. So I came home and started discussing this with great passion.
"We have to think about what promises and truth we know instead of how we feel! Don't you see?!"
What does a young teen think, "I'm not pretty enough. I'm not smart enough. I don't have any skills. No one likes me. I will never be successful in life."
But Mary probably never had a thought like that in her life. Because her mind was filled with Scripture! So many teens instead fill their minds with the lies that come from malls, instagram, lame friends (who aren't really true friends half the time).
So I went on and on, "The next time any thought occurs to you that is negative, or a lie, or whatever it is that is making you feel awful about yourself.....do what Mary did....think about the FACTS!"
It's true. We have to think on what is "true, pure, lovely". Then our mind gets restarted. I reminded them, "Faith is next and out of that faith, feeling will come and your heart will explode!" That really upset my 6 year old, "Did Mary's heart really explode?!" I had to explain!
Oh, how I wished all the teens in my life had heard the sermon the way I heard it. I wanted to shout it from the mountain tops. I even shared this with my teenage son who had been at work that night so was unable to be there. He is finishing up a major math course that has been a struggle all year. He is looking to get into a program that will potentially determine his life career. I told him to be encouraged! All the Scripture that he has memorized in the past may one day be what he falls back on to lift his spirits when the lies start to come in. I encouraged him to reflect on the truth he knows, not the lies. To embrace, by faith, these truths and then to get excited about how God may have a life-changing plan for him, just because he is being faithful to what he knows. Mary never knew how memorizing all the Scripture would one day make her purpose for living so clear! That was one of the truths that struck me. Her joy in the whole passage is partly because God gave her such a high calling, such an amazing purpose for living! I wanted my kids to embrace that excitement. I wanted them to know their purpose will flow out of all that they have memorized! One day, there will be this moment when it all comes together and they will have this "Aha" moment....
The reason I loved this, too, was that Mary didn't have to wait till she was old to have purpose. If she really was 13 then her purpose was discovered at a very young age! Lord, make my kids know their purpose early on! May they not wander for years wondering who they are, what they are good at, where they should be used.....But again, we don't know a lot about Mary's parents, but I'm guessing they regularly taught her from a young age. They didn't know what lay ahead for their daughter. They were simply diligent, trusting in God for their future and her's. Mary was blessed undoubtedly, but her parents must have also been blessed beyond their imagination! Imagine being the grandparents of Jesus! That would have been amazing!
I was recharged, if you can't tell. I was ready to take this Magnificat to all the pastors of all the churches and I was ready to challenge them to change all their programs to strictly memorizing Scripture just because of the impact it had on Mary. It is my new go-to passage to prove the benefits of Scripture memorizing! How can you do anything else with young people? How can we get so off-track and make it anything BUT memorizing Scripture? Is it easy? No. Trust me. My 8 year old said the other day, "THIS IS SO HARD!!!" when I asked him to sit down and memorize for the next quiz meet. But the benefits are so huge I can't even imagine any pastor daring to argue with me to NOT have that as part of any youth or child program.
My 19 year old was excited, too. We may just take on this challenge, I don't know. All I know is that it explains a lot as to why Bible Quizzing was so hard to organize this year. We have had so many challenges putting it together. We wanted to throw in the towel so many times. It makes so much sense now. If we stop Bible Quizzing and memorizing, we could miss what God has in store for us. We will end up not knowing Truth so that when the hard times come, we will be stuck with Feelings which are so unreliable. Mary was filled with Truth, with Facts. She didn't miss out. Her incredible purpose for living was crystal clear.
So, this is my prayer, for my kids, my nieces and nephews, for all those who struggle with wondering who they are, what they are to do, and who sometimes miss the truth and instead hear the lies. Know Scripture the way Mary did and it will all be crystal clear.
Wednesday 19 December 2018
Monday 17 December 2018
The Kitten Dynasty
Last week I got a call from a local farmer who sells eggs. I had been in touch with him earlier in the Fall as he was looking for homeschoolers who could work for him in the afternoons. I guess some of his help hadn't quite worked out and he was looking for new blood. I was very interested as I knew my kids wanted work and would do anything for it. But I also knew I'm not as discerning as my husband, so I asked him to stop in, check out the farm and then make the call.
He was willing to do so and went and checked it out. He was glad he did. It was brutal work. Yes, they would be paid well, but not well enough. He was concerned that it could potentially be a negative situation for our kids, so he came back and said, "No." My son was disappointed as he really wanted the work, but understood. I felt badly for him and was really praying that there would be a way for him to make money that wouldn't be so hard. Does it always have to be awful work?
That's when the kitten dynasty was born. Like I wrote before, we had never charged ever for kittens. Once we started to charge a little it occurred to me, we really are offering something that is worth something. I stopped feeling badly about it. In fact, we upped our prices! They still sold! Suddenly my son who had so badly wanted work had money and, dare I say, it was pretty easy money! Though my house does suffer a little because of these cats, I would say it's worth it! They are all now gone or spoken for and no one even flinched at our pricing. The kids are almost at the amount for the overseas child for the entire year! After that, they get to keep the rest. At the rate they are going, they'll make it easily and then some.
I just marvel once again at how God heard my prayer for my son. He immediately answered my request for work for my son, work that was on our property that wouldn't kill him, that was safe, that was lucrative, not slave labour. So great.
Now, we are watching our cats....never before have we hoped they were pregnant!
He was willing to do so and went and checked it out. He was glad he did. It was brutal work. Yes, they would be paid well, but not well enough. He was concerned that it could potentially be a negative situation for our kids, so he came back and said, "No." My son was disappointed as he really wanted the work, but understood. I felt badly for him and was really praying that there would be a way for him to make money that wouldn't be so hard. Does it always have to be awful work?
That's when the kitten dynasty was born. Like I wrote before, we had never charged ever for kittens. Once we started to charge a little it occurred to me, we really are offering something that is worth something. I stopped feeling badly about it. In fact, we upped our prices! They still sold! Suddenly my son who had so badly wanted work had money and, dare I say, it was pretty easy money! Though my house does suffer a little because of these cats, I would say it's worth it! They are all now gone or spoken for and no one even flinched at our pricing. The kids are almost at the amount for the overseas child for the entire year! After that, they get to keep the rest. At the rate they are going, they'll make it easily and then some.
I just marvel once again at how God heard my prayer for my son. He immediately answered my request for work for my son, work that was on our property that wouldn't kill him, that was safe, that was lucrative, not slave labour. So great.
Now, we are watching our cats....never before have we hoped they were pregnant!
Friday 14 December 2018
Soap, microgreens, renos and kittens
The last week has been so fun for me. It started off with my 2nd annual soap making day with a friend. I came out with lots of bars of soap for gifts and for myself. I love it so much and feel so much better about using that on my skin. I am not about to go into a soap business, but feel good about making it for myself, friends and family.
Next, I moved into microgreens. These are the little plants that are a few inches high that you can put on salads or eat just as a snack. They are the healthiest little greens you can eat and they are apparently quite easy to grow. I was introduced to them a couple of years ago when I watched my friends grow them and sell them at farmer's markets around southern Ontario. I interviewed them, saw their business and was so excited to try it myself, but then put it off and put it off. Then I met another lady this past summer at another local farmer's market in town and started talking with her. She was happy to get together as well and share her knowledge which is what I love best about being out here, everyone is so happy to share what they know.
She and another homeschooler from the farmer's market came over yesterday (who I had never met until yesterday!). We planted microgreens together on my kitchen table and now we're just hoping for the best! If this works I will have microgreens year round! This is very exciting for me! My kids love them, so I'm hoping it works out.
Now we're into renovation mode....nothing makes me happier than renovating. Today I was told to take the decor off the walls and move everything off to one side. When that happens I know he's serious. There is a saw on the floor. All good signs! I'm still trying to keep my expectations in check, but even if a little work gets done, I'll be happy.
Still in full-Christmas mode, running off to cookie exchanges, baking cookies, watching Christmas plays....the season is so full and I'm enjoying every minute of it.
We also had a windfall of unexpected money this week from a very funny source.....KITTENS! We had never listed our kittens for money, but we kept being encouraged to do so, so we tried it. Unbelievably people will pay for kittens. We listed and sold all of them in one day. The kids were thrilled! They were sure they were going to keep all the money until I reminded them they had started sponsoring a child.....
A week ago we all went to that country music concert. As many artists do these days, they showed footage of Sudan where the kids in a war zone are being terribly affected. My kids were so upset and begged me to sponsor a child. We have done this in the past, but not with the younger set. I explained to them what it would cost and told them they would need to help find the money to pay the monthly rate. They were willing to do whatever it took. I went ahead and filled in the paperwork knowing the reality would hit them once we got home. Sure enough, when the kitten money started flowing, they suddenly didn't want to give it away. They wanted to keep all of it. You could see dollar signs in their eyes. But RM wouldn't budge. They had made a deal to help pay for this little boy and they weren't going to get out of it. Now they have to raise nearly $500 a year to pay for him! It appears we are kitten breeders now. Good thing we only have 100 cats (ok, I exaggerated, but that's what it seems like around here!)
So, if my house smells permanently like kitty litter and cat food, it's all for a good cause.....
Next, I moved into microgreens. These are the little plants that are a few inches high that you can put on salads or eat just as a snack. They are the healthiest little greens you can eat and they are apparently quite easy to grow. I was introduced to them a couple of years ago when I watched my friends grow them and sell them at farmer's markets around southern Ontario. I interviewed them, saw their business and was so excited to try it myself, but then put it off and put it off. Then I met another lady this past summer at another local farmer's market in town and started talking with her. She was happy to get together as well and share her knowledge which is what I love best about being out here, everyone is so happy to share what they know.
She and another homeschooler from the farmer's market came over yesterday (who I had never met until yesterday!). We planted microgreens together on my kitchen table and now we're just hoping for the best! If this works I will have microgreens year round! This is very exciting for me! My kids love them, so I'm hoping it works out.
Now we're into renovation mode....nothing makes me happier than renovating. Today I was told to take the decor off the walls and move everything off to one side. When that happens I know he's serious. There is a saw on the floor. All good signs! I'm still trying to keep my expectations in check, but even if a little work gets done, I'll be happy.
Still in full-Christmas mode, running off to cookie exchanges, baking cookies, watching Christmas plays....the season is so full and I'm enjoying every minute of it.
We also had a windfall of unexpected money this week from a very funny source.....KITTENS! We had never listed our kittens for money, but we kept being encouraged to do so, so we tried it. Unbelievably people will pay for kittens. We listed and sold all of them in one day. The kids were thrilled! They were sure they were going to keep all the money until I reminded them they had started sponsoring a child.....
A week ago we all went to that country music concert. As many artists do these days, they showed footage of Sudan where the kids in a war zone are being terribly affected. My kids were so upset and begged me to sponsor a child. We have done this in the past, but not with the younger set. I explained to them what it would cost and told them they would need to help find the money to pay the monthly rate. They were willing to do whatever it took. I went ahead and filled in the paperwork knowing the reality would hit them once we got home. Sure enough, when the kitten money started flowing, they suddenly didn't want to give it away. They wanted to keep all of it. You could see dollar signs in their eyes. But RM wouldn't budge. They had made a deal to help pay for this little boy and they weren't going to get out of it. Now they have to raise nearly $500 a year to pay for him! It appears we are kitten breeders now. Good thing we only have 100 cats (ok, I exaggerated, but that's what it seems like around here!)
So, if my house smells permanently like kitty litter and cat food, it's all for a good cause.....
Monday 10 December 2018
Living, Moving, Having our Being....In Him
If someone were to have tried to track our family's activities this past weekend, it would have been a challenge. There are a lot of us and keeping track of where each one is is a full-time job in itself!
Let's take Friday night for an example. My oldest daughter blessed my 2nd daughter for an early birthday present with tickets to Hamilton, the musical of all musicals. It was the best night of her life she said. They went over the border, just the two of them, to see it in Buffalo.
Meanwhile, we were graciously offered 4 tickets to see Tim Neufeld and the Glory Boys (a country band) that same night! I had never heard of this band and I have to admit I was a little skeptical. Country is not exactly my style or anyone in my family's style. But it sounded like a fun event, so we gladly accepted. Who would go? Who would stay? It turns out, I ended up taking 3 of the "medium" aged kids, leaving the youngest at home with the oldest boy! (see, it's complicated!) I have to admit, I walked out saying, along with my kids, "That was one of the best concerts I've ever seen!" Tim shouldn't just be in a band, he should really be a comedian as well. I had tears running down my face I was laughing so much throughout his show. He was HILARIOUS! My kids loved him and his antics, too. It was a super great night.
Meanwhile (there's lots of "meanwhiles"....), my husband and my 2nd son were meeting with a pilot who graduated from a school we're considering for this year or next. That was also a very interesting meeting as he was extremely helpful and informative about the school giving great input as to how and why it blessed him so much. Right now this pilot we met has a once in a lifetime job flying all over the world and he credits his experience to that school, so even though it was off the table, now it's back on!
At the same time, I hadn't even seen my oldest son who had just finished writing another final exam, so missed catching up with him, as did everyone else, 'cause no one was home to hear him, the poor guy!
When we all finally got together the next day, there was so much to say, so much to talk about....everyone was interrupting everyone else. It was funny! We almost have to schedule a family conference in order to hear what's going on in everyone's life. I marvel at all the driving that goes on and thank God every time we are all back safe and sound. Truly God's traveling mercies have been on us.
The following day, Saturday, was spent all apart again - some went with me to attempt making soap at a friend's house. Some stayed home dog-sitting a little golden retriever puppy we've made friends with! Some went to work, some were working in the shop.....it is hard to connect. Life can get so busy.
Our evenings are when we try to debrief. It has meant staying up later than I am used to. But those are when the conversations happen.
Today will be no different. My oldest and I will head to a dental surgeon where she is getting a tooth extracted. She will be totally put under so I will have to drive her home. Some will head for more finals, some will head to work, others will be left at home to watch little ones. We will be all split up again. But this Thursday evening marks the beginning of a 3 week "vacation". For some that would mean a trip. For us, it means a "stay-cation". I don't mind though. My husband has great plans for the house to try and finish up a few things. I've already told a few people to pray for me so that I won't be the wife who has all these secret expectations who then gets disappointed when things don't go her way! More than anything, these 3 weeks will be a wonderful time where we will get to connect as a family, hopefully we will be able to just spend time in the same room, talking, laughing, praying together. Life is going so fast. I want it to slow down, but then again, it makes for a full life, so I don't mind so much.
I read in Acts 17:26-28 that everything I'm feeling and experiencing has been pre-determined. Even in all the craziness, God knew where I would live, He knew the kids I would have, He knew when I would be born and when my kids would be born. And all of this is in order for us to seek God, to feel our way toward Him. That even in the busy-ness, He is not far from me. That "in Him we live and move and have our being".
26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
Let's take Friday night for an example. My oldest daughter blessed my 2nd daughter for an early birthday present with tickets to Hamilton, the musical of all musicals. It was the best night of her life she said. They went over the border, just the two of them, to see it in Buffalo.
Meanwhile, we were graciously offered 4 tickets to see Tim Neufeld and the Glory Boys (a country band) that same night! I had never heard of this band and I have to admit I was a little skeptical. Country is not exactly my style or anyone in my family's style. But it sounded like a fun event, so we gladly accepted. Who would go? Who would stay? It turns out, I ended up taking 3 of the "medium" aged kids, leaving the youngest at home with the oldest boy! (see, it's complicated!) I have to admit, I walked out saying, along with my kids, "That was one of the best concerts I've ever seen!" Tim shouldn't just be in a band, he should really be a comedian as well. I had tears running down my face I was laughing so much throughout his show. He was HILARIOUS! My kids loved him and his antics, too. It was a super great night.
Meanwhile (there's lots of "meanwhiles"....), my husband and my 2nd son were meeting with a pilot who graduated from a school we're considering for this year or next. That was also a very interesting meeting as he was extremely helpful and informative about the school giving great input as to how and why it blessed him so much. Right now this pilot we met has a once in a lifetime job flying all over the world and he credits his experience to that school, so even though it was off the table, now it's back on!
At the same time, I hadn't even seen my oldest son who had just finished writing another final exam, so missed catching up with him, as did everyone else, 'cause no one was home to hear him, the poor guy!
When we all finally got together the next day, there was so much to say, so much to talk about....everyone was interrupting everyone else. It was funny! We almost have to schedule a family conference in order to hear what's going on in everyone's life. I marvel at all the driving that goes on and thank God every time we are all back safe and sound. Truly God's traveling mercies have been on us.
The following day, Saturday, was spent all apart again - some went with me to attempt making soap at a friend's house. Some stayed home dog-sitting a little golden retriever puppy we've made friends with! Some went to work, some were working in the shop.....it is hard to connect. Life can get so busy.
Our evenings are when we try to debrief. It has meant staying up later than I am used to. But those are when the conversations happen.
Today will be no different. My oldest and I will head to a dental surgeon where she is getting a tooth extracted. She will be totally put under so I will have to drive her home. Some will head for more finals, some will head to work, others will be left at home to watch little ones. We will be all split up again. But this Thursday evening marks the beginning of a 3 week "vacation". For some that would mean a trip. For us, it means a "stay-cation". I don't mind though. My husband has great plans for the house to try and finish up a few things. I've already told a few people to pray for me so that I won't be the wife who has all these secret expectations who then gets disappointed when things don't go her way! More than anything, these 3 weeks will be a wonderful time where we will get to connect as a family, hopefully we will be able to just spend time in the same room, talking, laughing, praying together. Life is going so fast. I want it to slow down, but then again, it makes for a full life, so I don't mind so much.
I read in Acts 17:26-28 that everything I'm feeling and experiencing has been pre-determined. Even in all the craziness, God knew where I would live, He knew the kids I would have, He knew when I would be born and when my kids would be born. And all of this is in order for us to seek God, to feel our way toward Him. That even in the busy-ness, He is not far from me. That "in Him we live and move and have our being".
26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;[d]
So I read those verses to the kids because the last thing I want is for our busy life to take over and to miss seeking God. I don't want us to ever lose focus on God or on each other. What a challenge this is. I love that we can live in him, move in him and have our being in him. I feel like that means we can do all the things we do in our life, go all the places we go and still be in him as long as we don't lose our focus. As long as we acknowledge him in our lives, daily, moment by moment. One way I do this is I pray with the kids as I drive, no matter where we go, I start the car and I say to the kids, "Hey, let's pray for our day and for everybody in our family." Then, each one prays for safety, thanking Him for each experience we have, for all the opportunities we have, etc. It is a small thing, but it reminds us that we have a good life and we need to make sure that we keep God first and foremost. It's all about "as we rise up, as we walk along the way..." I'm trying to keep the spiritual side of their life as regular as breathing.
I'm excited about the next few weeks. It won't be normal. We don't do many "normal" things around here, but's good - as long as we keep living, moving and having our being in Him......
Monday 3 December 2018
A Tale of Two Women
Starting on Thursday I've met 2 really significant people that I would describe as world changers.....That has always been a secret theme song for my kids that I heard in one of my first years of homeschooling. The 2 lines in the song that I remember were:
I want to be a world changer
I want to be a mover, a shaker
That's it. But I remember thinking, "That's what I want to be. That's what I want my kids to be. Lord, let my kids be world changers." We even started reading books called World Changers about men and women like William Wilberforce and others like him.
Anyway, the first woman I met on Thursday was Tania Granic-Allen. She is the president of PAFE (Parents As First Educators). My husband started following this group awhile ago and loved what they were about. They fight the government on their involvement in parents' lives and how they parent. PAFE wants as little government as possible. Tania is a homeschooling mom of 4 and is a Christian. She recently ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives, but lost. However, she sure raised some eyebrows and can only be described as a fireball.
We had her come down to the homeschool support group to speak and she drove 3 hours to be there. My only sadness was that more people weren't there and that more people didn't get inspired by her. We all left after her talk ready to take on the prime minister and all the awful bills he's allowed pass since coming into office, not to mention all the other left wing politicians who hate families.
Her main goal was to get us to be involved, to not sit back, to write our politicians, to give input on the sex ed curriculum they are trying to change. So many Christians are sleeping and it is time to wake up. She also lives on a farm trying to raise animals and vegetables and kids....not easy (I know!) So she was very impressive as she manages all that as well as a career in politics. But I now know what I'll be doing at the next Policy Convention - I will be there with my older kids. I'm going to try to make sure they go to at least one in their lifetime as part of their schooling, (a crash course in civics!) so that they will see how things work.
She's fighting for a Parental Charter of Rights. Something that is etched in stone just like a Charter of Rights, so that when they try to take our children and or challenge us on how we raise our children, it will forever be there in black and white that WE as PARENTS have FIRST rights..NOT the government. The government thinks that they co-parent. No, they don't. I parent. They are MY kids.
Whew! I laugh when I read that...I am so NOT political, but I do get riled up when I think about stuff like that. Tania was very animated and I related to her a bit - we were able to chat a bit at the end and I shared with her that we were praying for her. I love women like her.
Then, on Saturday, a completely different woman came over to our home. She was my nurse when I was born in Zambia, Doraine. When my kids heard she was coming over, one of them said, "She's still alive?!" Yes, I am not THAT old.
She is now the "mobilizer" for SIM (Sudan Interior Mission), the mission my son is considering going to Zambia with this next year. My grandparents, parents and even myself have all been to Africa (my mom was born there, too!). It seemed natural that my son would also consider going. The interesting thing was it was his idea, not mine. The interesting thing is that he'll probably end up in the very hospital my dad worked in and where I was born.
One day he thought, "Mom, I think I want to go to Africa and work in the hospital." I mentioned it to my husband later and he came up with the idea that he take a term off school and go for a longer period of time. That was a shocker to me as I was quite certain he liked our kids on this side of the ocean more. When my son thought about that, it really interested him. I mentioned it to my parents and they gave me Doraine's email as she is the one to be in touch with. The next thing you know she's at our house interviewing my son.
Our oldest son has taken quite a turn in his original interest, perhaps considering human medicine over animal. He loves animals, but thinks if it is the same amount of schooling, he'd rather pursue human medicine and keep animals as a hobby on the side. He's doing fairly well at school and hopes to write the MCAT exam this summer. He'd then probably head for Africa either in the Fall or the new year of 2019. It takes that long to prepare.
Seeing my little nurse (she's so small!) was bizarre! To think she was one of the first people if not the first person who ever held me is crazy! And there I am introducing her to my 19 year old of my 8 children. It must be just as crazy for her.
She is a world changer. She told us all about an orphanage one of her student nurses started and how she is helping the 1 million orphans in Zambia (out of a population of 13 million). Amazing. Doraine also shared her story of how she fought being a missionary for years. It was one of the last things on earth she wanted to do and she ran from God doing other things, before she finally gave in and surrendered her life. She is now living in Canada, but hasn't slowed down one bit.
There you have it - two women, in just a few days. Both women are serving the Lord in such different capacities, one in politics, on through foreign missions. One young and just at the beginning of her career. One older and nearing the end of her's. One doesn't realize the fruit she's going to see and all the people she's going to impact. The other can look back and see God's Hand in her life and all the people she's been able to bring into the Kingdom. I guess it really doesn't matter where our kids end up, as long as they love the Lord and want to do His will, they can be world changers anywhere. That's my prayer and I'll keep singing my secret theme song for them.
I want to be a world changer
I want to be a mover, a shaker
That's it. But I remember thinking, "That's what I want to be. That's what I want my kids to be. Lord, let my kids be world changers." We even started reading books called World Changers about men and women like William Wilberforce and others like him.
Anyway, the first woman I met on Thursday was Tania Granic-Allen. She is the president of PAFE (Parents As First Educators). My husband started following this group awhile ago and loved what they were about. They fight the government on their involvement in parents' lives and how they parent. PAFE wants as little government as possible. Tania is a homeschooling mom of 4 and is a Christian. She recently ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives, but lost. However, she sure raised some eyebrows and can only be described as a fireball.
We had her come down to the homeschool support group to speak and she drove 3 hours to be there. My only sadness was that more people weren't there and that more people didn't get inspired by her. We all left after her talk ready to take on the prime minister and all the awful bills he's allowed pass since coming into office, not to mention all the other left wing politicians who hate families.
Her main goal was to get us to be involved, to not sit back, to write our politicians, to give input on the sex ed curriculum they are trying to change. So many Christians are sleeping and it is time to wake up. She also lives on a farm trying to raise animals and vegetables and kids....not easy (I know!) So she was very impressive as she manages all that as well as a career in politics. But I now know what I'll be doing at the next Policy Convention - I will be there with my older kids. I'm going to try to make sure they go to at least one in their lifetime as part of their schooling, (a crash course in civics!) so that they will see how things work.
She's fighting for a Parental Charter of Rights. Something that is etched in stone just like a Charter of Rights, so that when they try to take our children and or challenge us on how we raise our children, it will forever be there in black and white that WE as PARENTS have FIRST rights..NOT the government. The government thinks that they co-parent. No, they don't. I parent. They are MY kids.
Whew! I laugh when I read that...I am so NOT political, but I do get riled up when I think about stuff like that. Tania was very animated and I related to her a bit - we were able to chat a bit at the end and I shared with her that we were praying for her. I love women like her.
Then, on Saturday, a completely different woman came over to our home. She was my nurse when I was born in Zambia, Doraine. When my kids heard she was coming over, one of them said, "She's still alive?!" Yes, I am not THAT old.
She is now the "mobilizer" for SIM (Sudan Interior Mission), the mission my son is considering going to Zambia with this next year. My grandparents, parents and even myself have all been to Africa (my mom was born there, too!). It seemed natural that my son would also consider going. The interesting thing was it was his idea, not mine. The interesting thing is that he'll probably end up in the very hospital my dad worked in and where I was born.
One day he thought, "Mom, I think I want to go to Africa and work in the hospital." I mentioned it to my husband later and he came up with the idea that he take a term off school and go for a longer period of time. That was a shocker to me as I was quite certain he liked our kids on this side of the ocean more. When my son thought about that, it really interested him. I mentioned it to my parents and they gave me Doraine's email as she is the one to be in touch with. The next thing you know she's at our house interviewing my son.
Our oldest son has taken quite a turn in his original interest, perhaps considering human medicine over animal. He loves animals, but thinks if it is the same amount of schooling, he'd rather pursue human medicine and keep animals as a hobby on the side. He's doing fairly well at school and hopes to write the MCAT exam this summer. He'd then probably head for Africa either in the Fall or the new year of 2019. It takes that long to prepare.
Seeing my little nurse (she's so small!) was bizarre! To think she was one of the first people if not the first person who ever held me is crazy! And there I am introducing her to my 19 year old of my 8 children. It must be just as crazy for her.
She is a world changer. She told us all about an orphanage one of her student nurses started and how she is helping the 1 million orphans in Zambia (out of a population of 13 million). Amazing. Doraine also shared her story of how she fought being a missionary for years. It was one of the last things on earth she wanted to do and she ran from God doing other things, before she finally gave in and surrendered her life. She is now living in Canada, but hasn't slowed down one bit.
There you have it - two women, in just a few days. Both women are serving the Lord in such different capacities, one in politics, on through foreign missions. One young and just at the beginning of her career. One older and nearing the end of her's. One doesn't realize the fruit she's going to see and all the people she's going to impact. The other can look back and see God's Hand in her life and all the people she's been able to bring into the Kingdom. I guess it really doesn't matter where our kids end up, as long as they love the Lord and want to do His will, they can be world changers anywhere. That's my prayer and I'll keep singing my secret theme song for them.
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