I’d like to tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a little boy who woke his parents up in the night and told them he was supposed to go to Africa…. The end.
I know that story seems to end a bit early. Frankly, while I’m one who loves stories, and loves to tell them, I’ve never cared much for the ones that seem to have no ending – or rather, the ones which kind of leave you hanging… but that is exactly our story.
Just this morning, while I was thinking about the most recent chapter of our story, I received an email with the following quote from Oswald Chambers:
There comes the baffling call of God in our lives also. The call of God can never be stated explicitly; it is implicit. The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him. It cannot be stated definitely what the call of God is to, because his call is to be in comradeship with himself for his own purposes, and the test is to believe that God knows what he is after. (My Utmost for His Highest, emphasis added)
Coincidence of timing? Absolutely not!
It’s been over 40 years since I woke my parents up that chilly night in Houston, and the story has taken many twists and turns. My parents have now lived in Africa, and I’ve been to Africa twice. But too many times I have sought to live in opposition to the call or, worse yet – to reduce it to a life of formulas, position, magical prayers and the relentless search for control, predictability, and guaranteed results. Yet the Author continues to write… and his sovereign hand is gentle and persistent.
What I am about to tell you is the beginning of a new chapter in our story – maybe even the beginning of an entirely new book…
This past weekend, we spent quite a bit of time in meetings discussing the growing work in Lesotho, Africa, which was founded by my parents, Ladell & Bettie Patterson and is being directed by Rev. Tsikane Pheko. Most of you know of this work – known in Lesotho as The Bana Project of Lesotho and known here in the US as Logos Global Ministries. This project is currently assisting over 2,000 AIDS orphans directly, through weekly food and clothing outreaches – but there are hundreds of thousands more. Under Tsikane’s excellent leadership, we are now poised to reach the whole country of Lesotho. It is time to grow.
My parent’s story is intertwined with my own. Their dream and vision of coming alongside these abandoned children has birthed an exploding ministry that is now reaching Chiefs and other leaders in Lesotho. Recently, dad said the words from 2 Kings 7:3 seemed to leap off the page as if the Author were reading them aloud and directing them to him, “Why sit we here while we die?”
Why indeed? Their passion is to be where God has called them. Our passion is to follow God. So, as of this week, and in order to stay on page with the Author of the Great Story, we are pursuing the following action items:
1. Allen & Canda will immediately move into a full-time administrative staff position to oversee the ministry here in the US. We are currently scheduling outreach and church events and have open dates available for events and/or missions services. We will have to raise a regular monthly salary for our support, in addition to raising funds for the AIDS orphan work. All of our contact information will remain the same.
2. Allen will be planning regular trips to Africa or other international locations to teach or facilitate events focused on discipleship and pastoral leadership.
3. Allen’s administrative tasks will include the oversight of all media communication and all financial responsibilities.
4. Ladell & Bettie plan to move to Lesotho full-time by early fall of 2010 to oversee our growing outreach to the 400,000 orphaned and abandoned children in Lesotho. As they serve in the capacity of International Field Development Directors, they will also provide encouragement to the local leadership, and be full-time grandparents to a generation of children without any family.
5. Roger will continue to network, speak and develop new ministry partners which will be shared with you soon, and is also available immediately for speaking engagements….
I am discovering that when we tell our story, the Author speaks truth into others, and the stories merge. Just this week, Roger was telling the story of baby M’Hao – who was found beside a dusty trail where he had been left to die inside a bag of trash. A young girl, hearing the story, told Roger that while he told that story, she sensed the Author telling her that while she has always thought of herself as a piece of trash, He saw her as a special treasure and wanted to write this truth in her heart.
You have been a part of our story. And we are asking you to help us tell our story, the Story of the Good News of Jesus in whatever way the Author leads you to help – whether through prayer, networking or with your financial support.
As you know, current world crises continue to impact personal economies, but God’s Kingdom has always grown during such times. This is no time to shrink back, minimize our exposure or reduce our giving. This is the time to step out into the battle. We can only do this with your help.
In closing, these words by John Eldredge seem especially appropriate:
The only way to live in this adventure-with all its danger and unpredictability and immensely high stakes-is in an ongoing, intimate relationship with God. The control we so desperately crave is an illusion. Far better to give it up in exchange for God’s offer of companionship, set aside stale formulas so that we might enter into an informal friendship.
Thanks so much for your partnership and for being a part of our story. We love you deeply!
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Partners•
on December 20th, 2009•
What does it mean to get involved? Many people do “get involved” if and when they are asked, and are, as Webster says, “connected by participation or association.” But another definition that I like is being “emotionally committed.” When this happens it’s evident to everyone around you. There is a line that is crossed, a determination that pushes you a little further, a desire that occupies your thoughts whether awake or asleep. It is a pretty cool thing when people join you in being emotionally committed to something that you’re passionate about.
We’ve had a great year partnering with those kinds of individuals and organizations to meet our ongoing budget needs in caring for “the least of these.” We’ve had art auctions, golf tournaments, church mission drives and various other fund-raising projects. However, for a non-profit organization the job of fund-raising is never done. So I get excited when we have a chance to develop new friends and bring fresh awareness to the needs of orphans in Lesotho, Africa.
My wife, Faith, is office manager at a Therapy South physical therapy clinic. The Clinic Director, Eddie Adams, is a great friend of ours and a faithful supporter of Logos Global Ministries. Eddie and Faith wanted to get the clinic and patients involved in raising money for The Bana Project of Lesotho, so they began to talk to anyone who would listen. They placed pictures of the orphans and a small replica of an African cooking pot in the reception area for people to drop money into – and patients responded with donations over $800!
Eddie & Dedra Adams
Then Eddie’s wife, Dedra, was awakened one night with an idea. She could make clay crosses, paint them and sell them to raise money for the kids. She made a few and hung them as ornaments on a Christmas tree in the clinic. Patients went crazy for the beautiful handmade art, emptying the tree and loading her up with orders for more. To date, she has sold over $400.00 worth! I’m not sure many of us realized she was such a gifted artist. To see these beautiful pieces of art, CLICK HERE
And as if that weren’t enough, Eddie spoke with the company owner, Steve Foster, about The Bana Project of Lesotho. Steve has a huge heart for missions and wanted the company to be involved also. So they came up with an idea: instead of giving a material gift to the doctors and supporters of their clinics for Christmas, they would instead give a card that states that a gift was given in their name to help feed the orphans in Lesotho, Africa. Because of that project they have just presented us with a check for $1,500! This is a company who is no stranger to benevolence. They recently collected two truckloads of toys for local needy children. They wanted to be involved in making a difference at home as well as abroad.
Steve Foster, Roger Patterson & Eddie Adams
God is good and continues to lead people to us who will listen to the story and the needs and get involved. The needs are great and would be overwhelming if not for the realization that we are not alone. It can only be done with many people sharing the load and helping in ways like Eddie, Dedra and Therapy South have done. Community and relationships continue to give us the perspective that God is the One who provides the resources for the care of these orphans and vulnerable children, not us. We merely have the privilege and responsibility in joining what He is doing.
A special thanks to Therapy South for their support and a big thanks to all of you for being involved and changing lives.
Author: Roger Patterson
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Children, Photography•
on November 20th, 2009•
Lesotho has an HIV/AIDS rate of 31% – one of the highest in the world. According to WHO, AVERT and UNICEF data, there is now a generation of children standing alone, with a life expectancy of only 40 years of age. And according to current government data, the number of AIDS orphans increased in 2009 to over 120,000, — representing about 7% of the Basotho people.
The critical nature of our care is reflected in a recent IPS news article about Lesotho AIDS orphans, which said, “High levels of poverty, chronic food insecurity and the high prevalence of HIV have seriously endangered the children of Lesotho. Many leave school early to look after their siblings, or fend for themselves after their HIV positive parents die.” Each month The Bana Project of Lesotho receives new pleas for help from villages, chiefs, schools, and orphaned or abandoned children. Many times, simply due to budget constraints, we are forced to turn them away, knowing they will go away hungry or cold.
The Bana Project seeks to not only provide regular hot meals in the village areas most affected, but also provides blankets, shoes and school uniforms and supplies to the registered orphans. We also are in the process of establishing an agricultural program to teach gardening, farming, and animal husbandry to the orphans and the Village Committees who oversee the direct care of the orphans in each village.
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Children, Photography•
on November 10th, 2009•
There is a very special story about this young boy. About the same time we started The Bana Project, he was found inside a plastic bag beside a trail between the villages – discarded like common trash. He was rescued and is alive today because someone cared more about Life than about reputation!
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Photography•
on September 12th, 2009•
For years, The Bana Project of Lesotho, has had to rely on public transportation and/or expensive rented vehicles to transport food, supplies and equipment on our regular village outreaches and meal programs. But we are celebrating now!
In the month of November 2009, because of our generous private donors, we were able to purchase a good used Nissan Hardbody 1 ton 4WD pickup! This will allow us greater mobility (pun intended) and the possibility of wider outreach into remote mountain areas where our help is desperately needed.
Enjoy these photos and celebrate with us!
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