I’ve been raising 5 boys to men with my husband – not in our hometowns but in a town He sent us to.
This new hometown is my boys’ hometown – and in the raising of these boys, I have become “hometown-locked” – for now. No spend-the-nights at the grandparents. No weekends on our own. When bones get broken or sickness comes – it’s just my husband and I – and “stay-at-home” mom is even more stay-at-home.
A mission team came to our church once, talking about their African orphanage for babies abandoned because they had aids – and how they needed people to hold them, to rock them.
That was something I could do, rock babies, hold babies needing loving.
I had boys-to men to raise – and God, He told me to stay hometown locked – to grow upward. He did the math for me, too – to show it wasn’t a wasted staying. 5 boys x 5 friends x 10 years (because friends move in and out of the sphere) – 250 – to stay and minister to the 250 that came through the door of my house.
My son, though, he went to Uganda – to minister to those displaced in the bitter battles.
Kitchen Counter ministry – that’s where the Father put me – and then, in 2009 –He encouraged me to start a blog – to use this dream of mine I’d had since I was 6 – to write – for Him.
I still can’t go on mission trips out-of-town. I’m still raising some of these boys to men – but my writing through Cause Publication in conjunction with Jars of Clay’s Blood:Water Mission – can help fundraise to provide moms and dads and children in Africa with clean water.
Couch Rebels is a story collection by people who have stepped out of their comfort zone to minister the love of Jesus Christ – some in Haiti – or on the other side of a forsythia bush, some in a hospital waiting room, or at the end of a job termination experience.
No – I can’t go to Africa right now. I can’t go to Haiti right now.
Billy Graham said, “If you want to change someone’s life, tell a story.”
I think Graham meant a real story, a faith-quaking story that caused something inside to grow and reach higher.
Through Couch Rebels, I might be able to do that – in order to help to change someone’s life in Africa.
The $9.99 sale of one Kindle ebook will provide 3 people with clean water for a year
Won’t you click over – and purchase one book, regardless of whether my story makes it to the finals or not?
To learn more about what’s going on, click here
The writers and stories haven’t been chosen yet, though submissions have been accepted and closed.
You can still read and vote.
I have included a liste of writers dear to my heart who have made it past phase 1 and 2 also – please stop by and support them.
Brandee Shafer, The Empty Chair
Beck Gambill, Sarah’s Song
Karin Hume – Poverty and Paradise
Laura Rath – Trusting God – With Me
Amy Sullivan – On Destitute Teens and Barbies
Kim Hall – Coming Through the Dark Valley of Unemployment
Jennifer Camp Johnson – Obedience and Adventure Go Hand in Hand
Jill Richardson – His Princess of Egypt
Melissa Aldrich – When You Want to Go, But You’re Called to Stay
