Overwhelming need…This is what I am faced with everyday when I leave my house. Whether it is a child begging for food on the street, “Madam I’m very hungry. I haven’t eaten in 3 days.” Or a dear friend struggling to pay school fees for their child or someone in the village with no shoes. It is overwhelming and unrelenting. Think of a time when a homeless person has approached you and asked for money and the uncomfortable feeling you may have had of whether or not to give it to this person. That feeling plagues me several times a day. I cry out to the Lord, “God, what do you want me to do? How can I ignore these people, but how on earth can I possibly give to everyone?” I hear His still, small voice, “My dear child, I am the ultimate provider and don’t think for one second I have forgotten them. I have not. Justice will come and there will be no more suffering.” There have been so many people who have been crippled from “hand-outs” and they learn the behavior as a means of survival. But what can we do? It’s not every person that we can take by the hand and teach them to fish, but we can take a few and those few will learn to also take a few and then we can reach the multitude.
I think of a song by Tim Hughes which says:
When hope is lost, I’ll call you Savior
When pain surrounds, I’ll call you Healer,
When silence falls, you’ll be the song within my heart.
I will praise you, I will praise you,
Though the tears fall, still I will sing to you.
I will praise you, Jesus praise you,
Through the suffering still I will sing to you.
This is what so many Zambian do and this is also my desire…
Recently, I have been doing a bible study on Esther with some other missionaries and one thing that has stuck out to me is that we need to learn to be empathetic towards people in their situations. Lend an ear, not just a quick fix to stop your uncomfortable feelings. Esther wanted a quick fix when Mordecai was mourning by giving him clothes to change into, but Mordecai demanded that she listen and understand the cry of his heart and Esther had to step into a very uncomfortable situation, but ultimately she was stepping into the destiny that God had called her to. I like to think that I am making that step and it is very uncomfortable and scary. So many unknowns, loss of hope, and feelings of isolation, but yet I have a God that is ALWAYS with me. Always…
Just last week, four boys were arrested by my house. They were suspected to be stealing in the neighborhood. They were so young (18 or so) and yet had come to the point of desperation already. The police here don’t typically have cars so people are forced to “arrest” people themselves and take them to the police station. The boys were whipped with a hose to make sure they didn’t run and were put into the car. Even though they had done wrong, I felt it was so unnecessary to whip them. There is no “innocent before proven guilty”. Here it is “guilty before proven innocent”.
I have started to see more of what the LIFE Project is doing and understand the organization better. I have applied for my work permit and I’m praying it is processed in a few weeks so that I can buy a car and start visiting villages and assessing needs. Recently, I have been busy school shopping with a few sponsored children and making sure their fees are paid. Imagine your child being sent home from school until they pay, missing important lessons, and feeling ostracized. This is what happens here when parents fail to pay their children’s school fees. Free education is a huge privilege.
Prayer Requests:
-A new place to live with more people around since I have failed to find a roommate.
-Continued Financial Need (I am currently still in need of about $700 for the training I will do in May and monthly donors-I need $700 a month-who can commit to any amount, even $10-$20 a month, so that I can stay as a full-time staff member)
-Sponsored children to continue to have their needs met
-God-inspired project for the vulnerable populations in the villages
-A connectedness among my team members
-Strength to face the need and resources to care for those in need
Thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and financial support! It is greatly appreciated!
Checks can be made payable to Overland Missions and sent to:
Erin Hartzell
c/o Overland Missions
P.O. Box 566
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 USA
Please make sure to note on a separate piece of paper that your money is allocated for Erin Hartzell. Do not write my name on the check.
Or I can send you a credit card form to give online. Paypal is also an option and payments can be made to office@overlandmissions.com though there is a processing fee for Paypal and credit cards that will be deducted from the monies I receive.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Peace in the Midst of Need
Overwhelming need…This is what I am faced with everyday when I leave my house. Whether it is a child begging for food on the street, “Madam I’m very hungry. I haven’t eaten in 3 days.” Or a dear friend struggling to pay school fees for their child or someone in the village with no shoes. It is overwhelming and unrelenting. Think of a time when a homeless person has approached you and asked for money and the uncomfortable feeling you may have had of whether or not to give it to this person. That feeling plagues me several times a day. I cry out to the Lord, “God, what do you want me to do? How can I ignore these people, but how on earth can I possibly give to everyone?” I hear His still, small voice, “My dear child, I am the ultimate provider and don’t think for one second I have forgotten them. I have not. Justice will come and there will be no more suffering.” There have been so many people who have been crippled from “hand-outs” and they learn the behavior as a means of survival. But what can we do? It’s not every person that we can take by the hand and teach them to fish, but we can take a few and those few will learn to also take a few and then we can reach the multitude.
I think of a song by Tim Hughes which says:
When hope is lost, I’ll call you Savior
When pain surrounds, I’ll call you Healer,
When silence falls, you’ll be the song within my heart.
I will praise you, I will praise you,
Though the tears fall, still I will sing to you.
I will praise you, Jesus praise you,
Through the suffering still I will sing to you.
This is what so many Zambian do and this is also my desire…
Recently, I have been doing a bible study on Esther with some other missionaries and one thing that has stuck out to me is that we need to learn to be empathetic towards people in their situations. Lend an ear, not just a quick fix to stop your uncomfortable feelings. Esther wanted a quick fix when Mordecai was mourning by giving him clothes to change into, but Mordecai demanded that she listen and understand the cry of his heart and Esther had to step into a very uncomfortable situation, but ultimately she was stepping into the destiny that God had called her to. I like to think that I am making that step and it is very uncomfortable and scary. So many unknowns, loss of hope, and feelings of isolation, but yet I have a God that is ALWAYS with me. Always…
Just last week, four boys were arrested by my house. They were suspected to be stealing in the neighborhood. They were so young (18 or so) and yet had come to the point of desperation already. The police here don’t typically have cars so people are forced to “arrest” people themselves and take them to the police station. The boys were whipped with a hose to make sure they didn’t run and were put into the car. Even though they had done wrong, I felt it was so unnecessary to whip them. There is no “innocent before proven guilty”. Here it is “guilty before proven innocent”.
I have started to see more of what the LIFE Project is doing and understand the organization better. I have applied for my work permit and I’m praying it is processed in a few weeks so that I can buy a car and start visiting villages and assessing needs. Recently, I have been busy school shopping with a few sponsored children and making sure their fees are paid. Imagine your child being sent home from school until they pay, missing important lessons, and feeling ostracized. This is what happens here when parents fail to pay their children’s school fees. Free education is a huge privilege.
Prayer Requests:
-A new place to live with more people around since I have failed to find a roommate.
-Continued Financial Need (I am currently still in need of about $700 for the training I will do in May and monthly donors-I need $700 a month-who can commit to any amount, even $10-$20 a month, so that I can stay as a full-time staff member)
-Sponsored children to continue to have their needs met
-God-inspired project for the vulnerable populations in the villages
-A connectedness among my team members
-Strength to face the need and resources to care for those in need
Thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and financial support! It is greatly appreciated!
Checks can be made payable to Overland Missions and sent to:
Erin Hartzell
c/o Overland Missions
P.O. Box 566
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 USA
Please make sure to note on a separate piece of paper that your money is allocated for Erin Hartzell. Do not write my name on the check.
Or I can send you a credit card form to give online. Paypal is also an option and payments can be made to office@overlandmissions.com though there is a processing fee for Paypal and credit cards that will be deducted from the monies I receive.
I think of a song by Tim Hughes which says:
When hope is lost, I’ll call you Savior
When pain surrounds, I’ll call you Healer,
When silence falls, you’ll be the song within my heart.
I will praise you, I will praise you,
Though the tears fall, still I will sing to you.
I will praise you, Jesus praise you,
Through the suffering still I will sing to you.
This is what so many Zambian do and this is also my desire…
Recently, I have been doing a bible study on Esther with some other missionaries and one thing that has stuck out to me is that we need to learn to be empathetic towards people in their situations. Lend an ear, not just a quick fix to stop your uncomfortable feelings. Esther wanted a quick fix when Mordecai was mourning by giving him clothes to change into, but Mordecai demanded that she listen and understand the cry of his heart and Esther had to step into a very uncomfortable situation, but ultimately she was stepping into the destiny that God had called her to. I like to think that I am making that step and it is very uncomfortable and scary. So many unknowns, loss of hope, and feelings of isolation, but yet I have a God that is ALWAYS with me. Always…
Just last week, four boys were arrested by my house. They were suspected to be stealing in the neighborhood. They were so young (18 or so) and yet had come to the point of desperation already. The police here don’t typically have cars so people are forced to “arrest” people themselves and take them to the police station. The boys were whipped with a hose to make sure they didn’t run and were put into the car. Even though they had done wrong, I felt it was so unnecessary to whip them. There is no “innocent before proven guilty”. Here it is “guilty before proven innocent”.
I have started to see more of what the LIFE Project is doing and understand the organization better. I have applied for my work permit and I’m praying it is processed in a few weeks so that I can buy a car and start visiting villages and assessing needs. Recently, I have been busy school shopping with a few sponsored children and making sure their fees are paid. Imagine your child being sent home from school until they pay, missing important lessons, and feeling ostracized. This is what happens here when parents fail to pay their children’s school fees. Free education is a huge privilege.
Prayer Requests:
-A new place to live with more people around since I have failed to find a roommate.
-Continued Financial Need (I am currently still in need of about $700 for the training I will do in May and monthly donors-I need $700 a month-who can commit to any amount, even $10-$20 a month, so that I can stay as a full-time staff member)
-Sponsored children to continue to have their needs met
-God-inspired project for the vulnerable populations in the villages
-A connectedness among my team members
-Strength to face the need and resources to care for those in need
Thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and financial support! It is greatly appreciated!
Checks can be made payable to Overland Missions and sent to:
Erin Hartzell
c/o Overland Missions
P.O. Box 566
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920 USA
Please make sure to note on a separate piece of paper that your money is allocated for Erin Hartzell. Do not write my name on the check.
Or I can send you a credit card form to give online. Paypal is also an option and payments can be made to office@overlandmissions.com though there is a processing fee for Paypal and credit cards that will be deducted from the monies I receive.
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