New Links and Fresh News...

Oklahoma Tragedy
By now you are aware of the devastation experienced in Moore, Oklahoma yesterday as a massive tornado swept through the city, leveling two elementary schools, hundreds of homes and buildings, and left 24 dead (as of noon Tuesday) and 233 injured.  Pray for those affected.  If you desire to give or volunteer to help, you can contact Samaritan's Purse to do both.


Social Media Lesson:

This post  by Jen Wilkins at The Gospel Coalition was a great reminder to me about the need for filters in what we post in social media--in this case about our loved ones.  Here was a quote worth reading:

In school my children were taught a memory tool to help them make wise choices when speaking, writing, or posting:  T-H-I-N-K: Is what I have to say True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, or Kind?

I wonder how many of our posts fits that paradigm?

News from the Chambers...
I don't know anyone who sends better prayer letters from afar than Rachel Chambers.  Having joined Jim and Rachel in Zambia makes these regular emails even more powerful for us, but the following paragraph is a gut punch to any of us, whether we have been there or not.  In the midst of a full update, Rachel writes...

We were made aware of an orphanage work here in Kamunza—about a kilometer from the church – whose sponsors abandoned the work.  The nationals are staggering to simply feed and shelter the sixty-four children.  Our Biblical duty and our God-designed religion is to help –but how much, and in what ways?  We are currently befriending the orphans, bring some to church, assisting where we can with food and clothing, and working with the Zambian administrator to move them towards self-sustaining status.  We really  need wisdom.  There are serious financial burdens that they are bearing: a staff of eighteen who have not been paid for three months, daily care and upkeep of the home and children, and an unfinished house.  One business man and his wife are helping to raise funds from the community, but they want our involvement for guidance and accountability.  We’d never step in unless invited by the Zambian administrator, but he HAS asked.  So... praise God we can help, but pray for wisdom from above.  We need it, and the orphans need it. 

Wow.  Would you pray for this need--not just for the funds, but for the wisdom?

Rejoicing with the Kleis family
We heard from Jonathan and Noella about an amazing answer to prayer that puts them VERY CLOSE to their need and goal of moving to their new target area in Caselle, Italy.  They found a BIGGER house than they hoped at a LOWER cost than they imagined.  Only a few thousand dollars are still needed.  Prayf for them.  And if you don't know them well, you can visit their blog to get introduced to their family!