As I
reflect on the Mustard Seed and the things happening there, it is hard not to
see God at work. Where and how He
is leading, I cannot know and I will just have to follow one step at a time while
trying to let go of my penchant to worry.
The last
six months have seen much growth and change at the Mustard Seed. Much of the growth has resulted from
financial support arriving from diverse quarters. From Canada came support to hire a staff member for a one
year project. From Australia:
financial support to initiate a new program, Jewels of Hope (JoH), and from
Lesotho volunteers and experienced trainers to run the JoH program. From Germany, school fees for one of
our girls. From individuals, enough additional funding to enable the Mustard
Seed to continue to provide educational related supports that will assist our
girls to be more successful in school and in their life choices.
I marvel
that what started as a little endeavor in 2009, providing support to five girls
has the potential to be serving over 35 girl orphans by the end of 2012. It is God who is at work as He honours the faith and commitment of the women who believed that as a Mustard
Seed grows to become a place where birds can find shelter (Mark 4:30-32), so
the Mustard Seed Society would become a place where girl orphans would find
shelter and support in Lesotho.
Other
things that are happening:
In the
last six weeks our Big Sisters program, which was quietly happening with one
dedicated big sister, all of a sudden has four. The three new big sisters are outgoing young women - an
accountant, a teacher, a full time volunteer - committed to supporting, listening to, encouraging, laughing with, praying with and loving our Mustard Seed
girls. From past experience we
know what a difference it can make to our girls to have someone come alongside
and be a big sister, a support, and a role model.
Another
of our girls, whom I have previously written about, living on her own and often
plagued with fears and loneliness, has found peace in the arms of God. As Henry Blackabee says, God is always
at work. Our job is to notice, come
alongside and be faithful with the little, and other, things he asks of us. As I and others are faithful,
God unfolds his plan. In this case
it was a number of our board members taking the initiative to see that this
girl felt cared for, prayed with, and shown she had others on her side. Where there was fear and anxiety, we
now see an even bigger smile, and a peace from God. Still, her journey is not yet over. We are supporting her to get medical
services for a lingering injury from a violent sexual assault in her past. And, each evening she still returns to an empty residence where she is very much physically alone. But we continue to pray for and with her, do what we can,
and trust that God cares for her more than we can ask or imagine.
Meanwhile
the Mustard Seed board sees an even bigger future. Amongst their goals for next society year is to locate land where in
the future they can build a permanent home for the Mustard Seed. Other thoughts from when the project
first got started are also being resurrected, ways that the organization can
generate income that would allow it to be more self sustaining. How about a "Women’s Only Driving School"? One woman’s response was
that she thought women in Lesotho might flock to a driving school with women instructors. We will see how this idea unfolds. Our new staff member is confident that
God will provide a car that will enable us to pursue this possibility. Maybe we can paint it pink.
I am
humbled and yet feel honored to be part of the Mustard Seed. The dedication and commitment of our
board and staff is inspiring, and God is at work. Yes, there are setbacks and disappointments. One of our early participants has run
off, abandoning her two little girls.
Another is HIV+ and very ill.
Even in these situations though, I continue to believe that God is not
finished his work yet. My job is to
continue being and doing what he asks, Step by Step.
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