all kidding aside

There's a lot of funny in life. Even a lot of funny in otherwise crappy situations. But sometimes you see something, encounter someone, or learn about something and know there is nothing there but heartache. And, you know you have a choice - to let it affect you to the point where you respond or to ignore it until it finally starts to ignore you.

Today, I'm sharing some of the things I've come face to face with this week. I'm praying I can trust God enough to respond and that I'll stop quietly asking Him for permission to ignore the problem (because isn't that what we're really doing when we don't respond?).

The first is a video I came across while surfing adoption blogs. I happened to find this on the site of another family adopting from Rwanda. Warning - it's hard to watch.



Then, today I attended the missions conference at our church. The speaker was Sarah Taylor, a woman who helped start a ministry to street children in Manila. When I say ministry, I mean a place where actual life change happens, where people give their lives - not just a week or so - to rescue, protect, feed and educate children without hope.

So, this is me.... wanting to be a part of the story of God's pursuit and love of these kids. This is me not having a clue what that could look like. This is me secretly hoping it's easy but feeling pretty sure it never is.

Home of Hope

We just had the privilege to visit Home of Hope with our dear friend, Mr. Song. I could write pages on Mr. Song himself and the way he has given his retirement to the Lord, moved to Bangalore and serves as a more-than-full-time prayer warrior, encourager, and minister to the "precious souls" at Home of Hope.

Home of Hope is a home that takes in people off the streets of Bangalore. Most of them are very sick, many are in their last days. All of them have nowhere else to go. It is a heavy experience to visit this place, which is very organized and well-run, despite the challenges of a staff shortage and finding adequate funding.

These people are precious indeed, and we arrived, many lined up to be prayed for. Mr. Song pays special attention to those whose time on this earth is short, beseeching our mighty God for their salvation. It is so humbling.

Ben said it best, "If Jesus were here today, Home of Hope is where He would be." This place isn't about complicated strategies, glamorous programs, or lofty goals - it is about providing food, shelter, comfort, love, and dignity to people who have none of those things.

Please help Mr. Song continue to minister to these people. He is praying for short-term teams to come love and serve at Home of Hope. Anybody with a medical background, or even just a compassionate heart that would like to show Christ to people by bathing, feeding, and praying with them would make a tremendous difference. Please consider putting together such a team from your church or small group to come here. You will get such a vivid picture of Christ's love if you do.

The picture above is from New Ark Mission, which has fantastic stories of people who have been rescued from the streets of Bangalore, as well as ways that you can help. Please also follow this link to see some beautiful pictures of the reality of life at Home of Hope.

On top of the World - without me!

Ben just got back from Nepal and brought back some amazing pictures of, what I consider to be the most beautiful country in the world (that I've been to). He and Tim went for "ministry" and got to take a mountain flight into the Himalayas (pronounced Him-all-yas) 'round these parts. I'm jealous, of course, but I thought I'd share a picture anyway.

In case you were wondering, they tell me that the ministry side of the trip went well, too!

Guest Blog by my dad, Don Beebe

Measuring Ministry


For six months I looked forward to our trip to India. Whenever we would mention India to friends they graciously interpreted it as “missions” when, being perfectly honest, all I was really thinking about was seeing my kids and grandson. I dreaded the long hours in airplanes and I had already learned from my AIA trip to Poland in 2003 that being out of the States meant being far out of my comfort zone. However, I was determined! I missed my kids and I so longed to catch up with and re-connect with Simon who, in contrast to his first 12 months of life, was rapidly learning the Pop-pop was but a face and voice in his mom’s computer. What a great trip we had! It was both eye-opening and challenging for me.

I was greatly impressed with the many ministry opportunities afforded Ben, Sus, and Sy beyond what I understood to be their primary objectives. I had already understood the objective of seeking to develop cooperation with Campus Crusade on the use of sport ministry strategy for enhancing the current campus ministry efforts. I also believed I understood the commitment to identify and train nationals as potential local leaders for the cooperation and implementation of sport ministry strategy for current campus ministry. What I was not prepared for was how extensive other ministry opportunities have opened up for Ben and Susie as they have given themselves to God’s plan, the people, and the very culture.

Those opportunities include the impact of sportsmen and coaches at all levels. This was demonstrated through the invitation Ben secured for us to attend a practice of the India Men’s National Basketball Team. The respect afforded us from the moment we walked in was staggering from being escorted to our seats at center court and through being served our tea at tea break. After being welcomed by the coaches the players lined up on the end line where we were introduced and Ben was able to inform and offer the ministry services of AIA to each one. Before resuming practice we were asked to go along the line and meet each player as if we were dignitaries of a foreign country inspecting the troops. I found myself checking my amazement at this great opportunity with the fact that each of these young men were persons for whom Jesus had died and that these introductions could actually be the door through which Ben and AIA might enter to lead one or all to Christ. I watched for a while as practice resumed before the coaches began to ask me, “So what do you think? What do you think we should be working on?” For a moment I felt like John Wooden or Dean Smith! More importantly I realized that they really wanted to listen and that this openness was a great sign of future opportunity for relationship building and discipleship.

Another opportunity was seen through the operating of two days of basketball clinics with a local college basketball team. The AIA staff seeks to develop campus relationships with Physical Directors which leads to invitations to operate training clinics with basketball sportsman. While basketball and teaching drew them I was able to present testimony of faith one day while the next day another staff member led the players through an offer of the gospel. It was hot and tiring but truly exciting to watch the work of the gospel by faithful servants.

Ministry opportunities continued to be seen in both Ben and Susie just through their investing in daily and routine relationships. The caring relationship with their housekeeper Lechsmi and her family; the neighborhood Bible study conducted by Sus and Stephanie; the outreach to local shopkeepers; all were moving to watch. Seeing how they responded to a rickshaw driver they have befriended while his family was in crisis was humbling for me as I realized how many similar opportunities I see here in the states everyday that I just pass by.

While the daily and routine engagements could easily fill the days there was still the highly intentional commitment to love where it might be difficult to love. We accompanied them to Accept, a ministry that provides care for about 15 children orphaned by AIDS parents. It was long ride and certainly out-of-the-way but the reception of those kids when they saw our car arrive on their property was priceless. We played cricket and soccer with some while others played on the simple playground equipment. We shared cupcakes Susie had prepared for the kids. We sang songs and prayed with them and for them. They were great young hosts and so appreciative of the visit and expressions of care. I was overwhelmed by how Ben and Sus gave both Christ and themselves to these special children.

As we headed back to the airport I pondered how blessed I was to have been there and played a small part in the ministry. What hit me however was that I was now going home to resume my own routine while Ben & Sus were headed to bed because there was so much ministry to prepare for the next day and the next day, and the next day. I had hoped to somehow measure their ministry so I could share it with our family and friends back here at home. I came to realize however, that their ministry couldn’t be measured. It wasn’t as easy as planning a couple activities or following a schedule. It was simply being willing to be used by God in the myriad of opportunity and need to which they have given themselves and for which they are trusting God. Not only is God using our kids to impact India, He continues to use them to impact me.

Guest Blog by my mom, Kathy Beebe

Reflecting this Easter weekend in the comfort of my mid-American home it is hard to believe that less than a week ago I was in Bangalore, India with Ben, Susie, and Sy. While I attempt to write down some of my experiences and thoughts I realize how easy it would be to let the tasks before me push aside what I experienced in India. But I know I really can’t nor do I ever want to forget what I experienced.

I primarily went to India as a mom and grandma. I couldn’t wait to see my family, hold my grandson. My prayer also was that I wouldn’t be frozen by the culture shock, but that God would give me the grace to experience Ben and Susie’s ministry, and to be willing to be changed by God, for His glory.

As a mom, I wanted to see how Susie was really doing. She always seemed to be doing great on the phone or over Skype, but I knew she couldn’t hide as we went through day to day experiences. At first I thought she had to be pretending that this chaotic traffic and endless noise wasn’t bothering her. She wants me to know she is okay and I don’t need to take her home with me. Then the ants, roaches, and lizards came. This will surely put her over the edge! But no, she just calmly looked for solutions. I think she did call on her Dad to help capture the lizard!

I watched in amazement as she maneuvered Sy in his stroller through the crowded streets of cars, motorcycles, busses, rickshaws, and cows (not to mention an overprotective grandma forever saying watch out!)

I watched in wonder as she led a Bible Study for neighborhood women with communication barriers, as we went to a home for orphaned HIV positive children and she loved them and played with them, while I was being an overprotective grandma with Simon. I will never forget her convicting words, “You can’t really love people without getting dirty, look how dirty Jesus got for us.”

As our two weeks came to a close I realized my daughter is really handling this, but she and I both know it is only because of God and what He has done in her life. Then one of our last mornings something finally put her over the edge. Her cinnamon rolls didn’t turn out as she would like. I thought, she is handling everything so well and this is what puts her over the edge! But then I realize this is the power of the gospel. God is always changing us and molding us to be more like Him in big things and small. From the time our children are born we pray that they would take on our faith and make it their own. How blessed I am to be praying that God would now give me faith like my daughter’s.