Final thoughts

Having been back in the states now for just over a week, I have struggled to try to tie my entire trip into one nice neat little package. While I did realize that it’s not going to happen, I also came upon a common theme over the months that culminated in the last two books that I read while I was in Ghana.

Taking a few steps back, or more like a year back to one of my first blogs that I wrote in June of 2008, I see that I asked specifically for prayer for humility. In all honesty I don’t quite remember why that was at the top of my list at the time. Most people getting ready to be separated from everything and everyone they know and love for 10 months probably would have asked for courage, boldness, or strength. I guess God knew that wasn’t what I needed most. He knew that in order to be used fully, I had to realize first how useless I really am. And I did learn that lesson, time and time again. Then, in case I didn’t really get it the first thousand times I fell on my face and cried out for help, I read two books in the first week of June, my last week there, that really nailed everything home. In Francine Rivers’ book, And the Shofar Blew, she tells the story of a man who becomes a pastor of a church to build it up in the name of Christ, but glorifies himself instead. In the end, the church crumbles and he is inevitably brought to his knees. Then in John MacArtuhur’s book, Hard to Believe, he first quotes from 1 Corinthians saying “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.” MacArthur then goes on to say “It is human nature to want to be somebody. So the Lord decided to do it in a different way, choosing as his messengers the impotent, nonintellectual nobodies who the world considers nothing by its standards.” I believe that passage of scripture does a couple of things; it humbles those who need a good humbling, and encourages those who need a good encouragement. In other words, it puts us in our place, a loved child of God made in His image, but one that should not consider equality with God something to be grasped (Philippians 2:6). After all, when countless people asked Jesus during his ministry on earth what they need to do to come after him, he said “deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). It is not about us, for we are dirty wretched sinners (“there is no one righteous, not even one”) but it’s about who God is and who we are only through him. I am so thankful for those invaluable lessons in humility, as painful as they may have been at times.

Finally, I have one last child to tell you about. It is strangely fitting that he is the last child for me to introduce you to, as he was by far the most difficult kid for me to connect with. His name is Kobby and he is a beautiful and precious boy. He is 11 years old and is very guarded, obviously carrying more emotional baggage than I would ever wish on any adult, let along a child. He has a winning smile and a heart of gold, but a real hesitancy to have too much fun or get too close to any one person. At one point though in the last month that I was in Ghana, he sent a message to me via another kid who said “Miss Lindsay, Kobby wants you to know that you are loved by him.” While there was never physical affection or attention to back that up, that single statement meant more to me than anything else could have. I ask that you continue to pray for him and all of the other kids even though I am home. I may be back in the US, but they are still there, and their needs are just as real now as they’ve ever been.

Thank you.

Love,

Your dear obruni

Lindsay Hendrix

I'm Coming HOME

The past week at Haven of Hope has been challenging and tiresome, but also rewarding and full of hilarious moments. I guess I don’t know why I expected my last week to be any different than the other 42 that preceded it. I struggled with a couple of my students in class and said a few goodbyes, but after school we put on plays with balloons on which we drew funny faces and had our final dance parties. In retrospect, if I weighed the good and the bad of every week, no matter how difficult it seemed in the moment, I think I always came out on top. I thank God for His goodness and faithfulness to see me through this ministry that He called me to. It is true that He will never give us more than we can handle with Him by our side!

There is one thing that made this week stand out above every other, and that is the fact that in the last 7 days, 10 boys from the home have come to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord of their lives! Praise God.

On another note… in case you weren’t already aware… I’m coming HOME. In 3 days, I will be taking off, making a pit stop in London, and traveling the rest of the way home to Phoenix again. I know it is time; I am more than ready to see my friends and family. And while it may be a few days before I am on a normal sleep schedule, I am anxious to have some real social interaction again!

Our child today just so happens to be one of the boys who chose this week to pick up his cross and follow Jesus. His name is Osumanu. He is 8 years old and kind of short for his age, but what he lacks in height he makes up for in personality and pure spunk! He is wild and crazy, but has a soft and tender heart!

Wrapping up...

I don’t have a whole lot to say today. I hope that’s alright. Many of you have read all or most of my really lengthy blogs and for that I want to thank you. It’s been great to have an outlet for my thoughts and feelings, and even better knowing that someone other than my parents actually reads them! I hope that in some way you have been able to live vicariously through me and experience even a smidgen of the joy, satisfaction, and love that I have felt in this place. Now the trick will be to transfer all of these lessons to my life back in Phoenix and persist in pursuing God’s continuing will for my life. These kids are too much a part of who I am though for me to leave and never return. God willing I will be back, in due time. A teacher does get a couple months off in the summers you know! Maybe some of you would like to come with me next time (wink wink)!

With only a couple children left to introduce you to, here is one of our extremely precious and soft-spoken young ones. Aseidu is 6 years old and in P1. He is smart and helpful, and despite his quietness, even the older kids love and respect him. He has been such a joy and a constant source of smiles over the last 9 months.

Trust and Obey, there is no other way

The past couple weeks have proven to be great object lessons in obedience and trust.

Ever since we attended camp with the youth from Calvary Baptist, it has really been on my heart (as I have written previously) to make a connection between them and the children at our home for a variety of reasons. So, in obedience to what I felt like I was being called to do, I got up in front of the church and spoke for a short time about Haven of Hope, what I’ve been doing here for the past 9 months, and invited everyone to come and join us in a “Happy Birthday Everybody” celebration the following weekend, May 16th. I asked that anyone who was interested see me after church so that we could have an idea of how many to expect. There were only 4 people who got my contact information and expressed interest. Extremely disappointed, I went ahead with the party planning and resolved myself to the fact that we were going to have a heck of a time whether or not anyone came to join us. And we did! We had music and dancing and cupcakes and ice cream and enjoyed ourselves very much. The 4 people who said they wanted to come did show up and enjoyed themselves as well. However, a couple hours into the party, 2 taxis pulled up at our gate and 11 boys poured out. Evidently on the same day that I spoke to the Youth Chapel, our pastor also announced it to the Teen Chapel. These 11 teenage boys transformed the party, really engaged the kids, played an epic soccer game, and their presence meant more to our kids than they may ever know. Many expressed a definite desire to come again and it was a great success in every possible way, despite my doubts. Obedience is one thing, but learning to trust that the Lord will work in your obedience is quite another.

It is funny to me how I can teach my own students certain things, yet not always believe them myself. A lesson I find myself repeating often is the plea for obedience. I also want them to understand that I do not ask them to do things “just because”. Every rule and therefore every act of obedience has a purpose. More often than not around here it is to keep the children safe and healthy. I say these things so often that the kids have begun to say them to each other, but when it comes to believing that God has a purpose when he asks me to do certain things, I struggle. He has a plan. I just need to understand that every act of obedience is part of a bigger plan, not “just because”. Faith and trust in my God need to both precede and follow my obedience, because He is good.

Please pray this week for Fausia. She is a hyper, hilarious 14 year old. She is a great dancer and a good student, but more than anything, I would say that she is a good friend.

Life to the FULLEST

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest.”

In this passage in John, Jesus is giving an analogy of the Shepherd and His flock, referring to his saving grace and the life that comes through salvation offered only by Him. Additionally, in Matthew, as Jesus is instructing the crowds how to pray, he says:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

To me, this means that the fullness of life does not have to wait. It is not something that begins only at death, but a glimpse of his kingdom is available to us now on earth! What does that “life to the full” look like though? I believe that it begins with the little things. The other day, I had gone into town and was getting back in the late afternoon. I arrived at my trotro stop about a mile and a half from our home and the weather looked clear as I began my walk down the road. However, due to the fact that we are now back in the rainy season and the weather is very temperamental, it started pouring down rain while I was still a half mile out. I walked that last half mile becoming a human mop and splashing mud on the back of my legs with my sandals, but in the midst of it, I was ultimately very happy. I laughed at the situation and found myself singing, thinking “there is nothing better than this”. If you can see God’s hand in everything and find joy despite circumstances, then that is life to the full. The beautiful thing though is that is only where it begins… there are no limits to the freedom of that life in Him!

This week there are 4 children, 2 sets of siblings that I’d like to introduce you to. The first, Sammy (5) and Kwame (9), came from very desperate situations on the streets over a year ago. They are both very energetic and precious boys who are always eager to help, but also quick to get into trouble! The second is yet another new addition to our family… Ama (2) and Prince (4). Please pray for these precious young ones this week!