“I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.”

Jeremiah 10:23-24


But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves are green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Monday, November 20, 2006

Christmas Letter

Dear Friends,

Merry Christmas!!

As I sit down to write this Christmas letter and reflect upon all the blessings experienced this year; I contrast it with the heart-wrenching stories I have been reading about children in South Africa. I begin to wonder if we aren’t blessed in this life so we can be a blessing to others.…..

It was a blessing to attend Candidate School in January – an awesome week of meeting fellow overseas missionaries and the fabulous YFC World Outreach staff! Then being accepted as an YFC missionary…because there are an estimated 13 million orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa (area below the Sahara Desert)….

Connecting with so many of you and being overwhelmed by your love and support, because only together can we make a difference for the 1000 more children orphaned in South Africa each month….

YFC Summer Institute – a time to reconnect with missionaries from Candidate School and meet new ones – one, Rita Usher, who will be joining me in Cape Town – and learning more about YFC and how they do youth ministry…because there are children heading households looking for hope for the future….

Selling my house in 5 days …because there are children living alone and on the streets….

Sponsorship from my two “home” churches – Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines and Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington, IA….because children are turning to the sex trade to get money for school fees or food to eat….

Even the totaling of my car turned out to be a blessing – my Uncle Don is letting me borrow one of his cars so I don’t have to buy a car AND the insurance company paid me MORE than I could have sold it for….because there are villages in Africa entirely populated by children….

These stories are why I must go! God has made it heavy on my heart!! And I hope you will join me by pledging your support today! Many of you have helped me exceed the goal for upfront expenses and over 80% of the monthly pledge needs are met thanks to you! Just $300 more in pledges per month and we’re on our way to restoring hope to these children! One-time and repeated yearly donations are also much appreciated! When you think about all the ways you are blessed this Christmas season, please also say a prayer for the forgotten children in Africa and consider what you can do to help! Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this ministry so far; I thank God for you every day!

Much love and blessings to you!

Bobbi
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