"CFL Africa"

Dear friends and family,

Can you envision a place that is home to the highest AIDS population of any country on the planet, where one in five is HIV+ and more than 35 people die of AIDS every hour? It’s hard to fathom, but this horrific AIDS epidemic in South Africa has left behind 3-6 million orphans, most of whom now live in Squatter Camps, with millions already suffering the effects of parents who are sick and dying of AIDS.

I want to share with you a challenging ministry opportunity God has presented to me. During September 27, 2012 – October 9, 2012, I will be going to Durban, South Africa with a team from Mantle Ministries

Our 13-day trip will focus mainly on partnering with Key of Hope Ministries (http://www.keyofhope.org/) and holding a Champions For Life Kids’ Camp for some of these kids who have been abandoned or orphaned, who have little hope for life and a future, by taking them away from their Squatter Villages to a Christian Camp in the mountains where we will be sharing the love of God with them in a family-style atmosphere with self-esteem building activities. Many of you are already aware of the wonderful testimonies from the CFL Camps we do here through Vision Hope (http://visionhope.org/), and now we have the opportunity to extend this ministry to Durban South Africa.

I'm excited about the opportunity and experiences that lie ahead. I hope you see the value in what we will accomplish. As you can imagine, a trip like this requires a huge commitment along with financial support from a number of people. I will need to raise between $3,500 and $4,000 for this trip. If you can support me in a financial way, I would be very grateful. 


And, most importantly, I need your prayer support. 
Prayer is the fuel that will allow us to be 
successful as we follow God's leading in 
ministry in this country.

Without prayer, nothing will happen.

If you would like to be part of this mission through your financial support, you can send a check to: Mantle Ministries, 31700 Couchez, St. Clair Shores, MI 48082.

Please make your check payable to Mantle Ministries and write "CFL Africa" on the memo line. Also, please attach a small note with my name on it to indicate that the support will go to my expenses specifically. All contributions are tax deductible and you will receive a receipt at the end of the tax year.

While money is important, it comes in a distant second to my need for your prayer support. Since prayer support is so important to the success of this mission, I would like to know if I can count on you in that area. Please pray daily for “CFL Africa”.

Because they need God’s love,

Liz Campbell

Joplin Continues to Tug at my Heart

The tears stream as I write this post. I can't get Joplin, MO and it's people off my mind, and I am currently working on the details to make another trip there this weekend.

I can't tell you how incredible it is to have been a part of what God is doing in the aftermath of the tornado there.  I feel such a bond with the people that live there, and with those that don't, but still come out to help the ones that do.

The needs are changing daily, but the needs are great as you can imagine. The Forest Park Baptist Church has converted what was their "Bus Barn" into what they have now dubbed "Mission Joplin". They are still asking that people hold off on giving clothing at this time as they don't have the warehouse space. 

The items that are currently at the top of the list are:

Diapers
Toiletries
Ladies Feminine Products

Denture Cleanser

Denture Adhesive

Laundry Soap

Queen and King size sheets

Tents, cots & air mattresses

Dishes, pots and pans

Bug Spray

Towels

Cleaning Supplies

I will be dedicating my Check-In piece of luggage to bringing donated supplies.  I know that the notice is short, but if you have an interest in giving and/or purchasing some of the above items, and can get them to me by Thursday afternoon, I will be glad to bring them down for you.  Of course, limiting it to the smaller, lighter weight items will allow me to bring more and not exceed the luggage weight limits.

You can also order items online and have them shipped directly to the church if you so desire.

They are at:

	725 S Highview Ave, Joplin, MO 64801

Here is a taste of 'heart and soul' of the people who were affected as written by Steve Mertens from Forest Park:

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest…How blessed you will be. -Isaiah 32:18, 20

"Besides Heaven that God has prepared for His children, Isaiah is speaking here of a spiritual place that lies in the Christian’s heart, mind, and soul which comes from a confident strength in the relationship we have with Him.

These past two weeks I have noticed many people who have lost everything in the tornado, including their homes, have such a resolve and peace about them in spite of their surroundings. They meet needs of their neighbors, help clean debris, and are the first to volunteer to help people they have never met. That’s because they live in a “peaceful dwelling place” and an “undisturbed place of rest” that does not rely on a physical structure, but on a life that is constructed by a foundation of walking with Jesus every day; relying on Him to bring security in their lives. To these people, a home is not a physical place. It is an attitude of the heart and soul that accompanies them wherever they are and encourages all those with whom they come into contact."



Joplin, MO Disaster Relief - Day 3

The Newspapers and Television reports can't begin to describe the devastation in Joplin.  You have to walk it, see it, smell it and try to imagine what life in this community looked like before the storm.  You have to wonder where these people will live, what they will drive and where they will work.  Where will next year's graduating class from Joplin High go to school?  You quickly begin to measure the disaster in so many other ways.

But, my purpose in blogging about this experience is not to give the sensational heart-breaker stories, but the "God stories" and the stories of hope and a future.

We arrived just in time to be teamed up with "Team 12" who was going out to take care of tree and debris removal.  There were 1/2 dozen work orders that we set out to take care of, yet found that most of them were already taken care of by random volunteers.  This was becoming commonplace around Joplin, as people continued to pour in from other states and communities to help.  Volunteers came out of nowhere. Others drove the streets handing out water and food. You'd see T-shirts and license plates from all over, from all kinds of organizations.

Our first 'real' job this morning was to help a lady, whose house was not totally destroyed (although severely damaged), to pack up while the guys tarped the roof and shed. 

Her front window blew into the living room and the only power source came from a generator on the front porch, but the mood was good and the blessings recognized. 

 

 It was soon decided that things were under control at this home and 1/2 of the team was then taken to the next stop which was at the home of a middle-aged couple who survived the tornado with their Grandson and dog huddled in the crawl space under the kitchen. Amazingly, this was the only part of the house that was left!  We got to work hauling debris to the street because FEMA would haul everything from the curbs away for free, but anything left on the properties after that, would be hauled at the cost to the homeowner.

The crawl space of this home was just to the left of the steps

 The couple here was fortunate enough not only to survive, but to also have insurance.  They haven't decided if they will rebuild, or what they will do yet.  They are taking one day at a time.  The team will come back after lunch to finish the job and pray with them.

Story after story of survival and hope were emerging from the rubble on a daily, maybe even hourly, basis.  The volunteers seemed tireless and eager to get back out after their meal breaks back at the church.  We were quickly becoming a family, and bonds were formed quickly with almost everyone you talked to.

This was the church in action.  The church was "being the church", and it was wonderful!  I didn't even want to think about having to go home, but our time was up and we said our 'good-byes'.

This is what I am called to do!  This is what life is really about - people, sharing the love of God, the gospel, and eternity.

Joplin, MO Disaster Relief - Day 2

Orientation for new volunteers with Samaritan's Purse would not begin until 1pm, so we were invited and encouraged to come early and join Forest Park Baptist Church for their worship service.  We arrived to a packed house that had almost standing room only.  We took a seat on the back wall and listened as the Pastor delivered a very simple, somber and basic message that at the same time was powerfully anointed.  Here is a link to that message:  http://joplin.fpbc.net/media/media_sermon_watch/the_heart_of_god?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

After service, we found out that the response for volunteers with Samaritan's Purse was so great that it would be a good idea to get our paperwork turned in by noon so we could make Orientation. (They were expecting about 200 volunteers on Saturday, but the number exceeded 800), 

Once we were teamed up with a group, where Stephan led us in prayer, we set out to the site where we were encouraged to just love on people, and offer them whatever help they needed.


(To the left is Pastor John with Franklin Graham)

When we reached 'Ground Zero', we found it hard to wrap our minds around what we were seeing.  For blocks, and in some places - miles, everything was totally leveled.  Everything was mowed down.  Houses, trees, cars - everything!  It looked like a bomb had gone off.

The first family that we met, who's rental house was almost totally gone, told us that the 5 of them, along with 3 kids from the neighborhood who were visiting, and 4 dogs all survived huddled in the bathroom.  They had pretty much scoured the area for the last week looking for salvageable and sentimental items, and we resolved to letting the rest go.  They would be staying with family locally, but would need a place to live.  A Pastor who was with us told them he had heard that the local radio station was giving out info on homes that were being donated or made available to families.  They welcomed our prayers and thanked us for the offer to help.

The next home we stopped at already had a team working that had been given permission to help out, so we joined them to go through the last of the rubble for precious keepsakes.  The home was owned by an 87 yr. old man who had been there around 57 yrs.  His daughter was over the day of the storm and he had just enough time to throw her against an inside wall and try to shelter her before it hit and took nearly 1/2 of their home (the 2nd story was totally gone).  They both survived with only minor scrapes and cuts.  As he sat on his front porch which was still standing with the volunteers, he recounted the memories of life there, and was thankful to God for his life and family.  Occasionally, a volunteer would find a picture or a piece of memorabilia and bring it to him which brought a brief smile.  I was surprised to find a page torn out of a coloring book of Snow White that was in perfect condition and colored by his Great-Granddaughter Allie.  It said, "I love you Grampa" on the bottom.  I think this may have meant more to him than the thousands of dollars worth of Baseball Card Collections, and other collectibles that he spent his entire life compiling.  We later heard that a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth was found several blocks away and brought to him.

This is now an 'outdoor' bathroom!

The last home we stopped at was owned by a lady named Josephine.  A group of young people, who joined SP after working with Convoy of Hope earlier in the week, were already hard at work moving what was left of Josephine's furniture and belongings out to some pickups that would later haul it a few blocks over to a home that she and her husband recently purchased to fix up and rent out.  Josephine was pretty feisty and was schooling our young men on church and prayer!

As we would walk the neighborhoods, and offering help, their were groups of volunteers and organizations who would drive around offering cold water and hot meals to the homeowners and volunteers.  At one point, the Red Cross came through and gave us a meal.
It was amazing to see so many who were willing to come and bring the skills and talents, whatever they may be. We saw one man offering to fix flat tires for free in the parking lot of a Dillon's that was totaled.  He had the equipment on a trailer to take the tires off the rims and repair them.  One family was there with their van that had the windows blown out, but were getting a tire fixed.  Another man was going around and sharpening chain saw blades.  The list goes on and on of "Good Samaritan's".  What a blessing to see and be a part of this!

Joplin, MO Disaster Relief - May 28, 2011 - Day 1

I am totally amazed at how God provided for every aspect of this trip - down to even the minutest of details!  

Let me back up. On Sunday, May 22, 2011 around 5:30 p.m. a multi-vortex tornado (now verified as an EF5) made a "direct hit" near 13th and Rangeline Road (a densely populated neighborhood and major thoroughfare) where several buildings - including a Walmart and St. John's Hospital - were toppled to the ground or totaled. The tornado was approximately 1 mile wide, and it tore a path 13 miles long, leveling almost everything in it's path and causing severe to moderate damage to the areas directly on either side.

On Monday, while I was at work, it was so heavy on my heart, that I wanted to go down there and help in whatever way I could.  I immediately felt in my spirit that God was telling me, "You CAN go. There is no reason not to." The thought of it took my breath for a minute, but as I started to consider the possibility of changing a few plans, and cashing in that 'Vacation Fund' from the piggy bank, I started to get excited. At that moment, I made the decision to go, and believed that if God was in it, He would take care of the details.  That first step opened up a floodgate of blessing and provision that was beyond what I could even ask or think. I began to search the Internet for a group to hook up with, and found that the Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief Team would be there and they were looking for volunteers.  That was as far as I had to look, and within minutes most of the connections and details were taken care of.  I even put the word out, and dared to ask some friends and family to help fill my back seat with supplies and goods for the tornado victims.  They not only filled my car, but all the funds to pay for gas, meals, and even some lodging were taken care of.  I was also looking for a travel companion, which came through just the night before I was ready to leave.  Not only that, but a last minute text by my Daughter-in-law to a friend of hers in Springfield, gave us a place to stay while we were there!  After all of this happened, I recalled a quote from Leonard Ravenhill who said, "If God be your partner, make your plans large!"  (I'm sure going to remember that for next time!)  
Shari and I left around 6pm on Friday, May 27th; stopped for about 5 hrs. of sleep, then arrived in Joplin, MO around 4pm on Saturday.  We pulled up at the Forest Park Baptist Church which had quickly become a Headquarters for several Volunteer groups including Samaritan's Purse.  They directed us to their property across the street where we could empty the car of all the donations, then park and go to work with them in their bus garage which was converted into a Drop-off Site/Store, where the victims could come and shop "free" for all the goods and supplies that they needed. 

 

It was like a beehive where all the workers were simultaneously unpacking boxes, filling shelves and helping people to "shop" all at the same time!  

 It was so wonderful and amazing to see people from all over the country and community coming together to do anything and everything they could to help!

Spiritual Warfare/Spiritual Dreams

May 30, 2010

On Saturday evening, I got home early because business was slow at the Restaurant. I unwound, and then went to sleep around 11:00. Then, at 12:30, my phone rang. It was a friend of mine who was doubled over in pain from some unknown.  It sounded very bad, so I got up and went over there thinking I might have to take them to the Emergency Room (maybe appendicitis?). As soon as I got there, we started praying. I prayed & my friend agreed, all the while writhing in pain, and moving from one place to another. Some time passed and I continued to pray in the spirit. After about 1 ½ to 2 hrs., the pain subsided enough that they fell asleep. I stayed & continued to pray in the spirit until I decided to take a break & sleep a little myself. I slept lightly, but at one point, I must have gone deep enough to dream (it was actually more like a nightmare). 

The dream started out with us in the room; there was a long couch against the wall. My friend was sleeping on one end; I was in the middle resting, and another friend was on the end, sitting on the arm of the couch. Then, the front door opened and shut; we all heard it and got up to investigate. To our surprise, there was a little, “elf-like” man scurrying past us and down the hallway toward the bathroom. We were all baffled at his appearance there, and my friend managed to corral him back out the front door. This little guy seemed more ‘annoying’ than threatening. After he was outside, I locked the door, and put the deadbolt and chain on. We all went back to our positions on the couch, and almost immediately, the little guy was back in the house. This time it felt a little creepy since the door was locked. Once again, we got him back outside where he immediately transformed into something that was unrecognizable and inanimate (non-living).  I broke it into pieces with a shovel & went back into the house satisfied that it was destroyed.

Then, a third time, the door opened and this time a robot-like being came in. It seemed a little more threatening and I don’t remember much detail after that except that we managed to get it out of the house too, and I woke up after that.

Later that morning,  I told my friend about the nightmare and they thought it was weird (no kidding!). I told them that what stood out about the whole thing was how “annoying” the little man was.

I went home, and later that morning, when I was at church, my thoughts turned back to the dream and immediately, the word “menacing” came to mind.  I started to think the dream may have been spiritual or from the Lord to show us something about spiritual warfare, and that my friend’s pain and symptoms may have been related to a spiritual attack.

When evening rolled around, and we were at my house, I decided to look up the word “menacing” and here is what I found: Menace – 1. a possible danger; a threat. 2.  a troublesome or “annoying” person (quotation marks mine).  Menacing – Threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments (i.e. ‘sinister storm clouds’; ‘his threatening behavior’; ‘the situation became ugly’). 

Long story short – we ended the evening by taking up the armor & praying against any future attacks.

Now, after re-writing this (June 7, 2010), I am thinking that this is what the dream might mean:

The little elf-man - I think he represents the effectiveness of my friend’s prayers before I got there. The friend got him out of the house the first time, but he came back again and was a little more threatening. The second time he got in, we got him out together through the power of agreement. My destroying him/it with the shovel may have been representative of my continued prayer in the spirit for him.  This leaves me a little unsure of what the third invasion/attack represents because the pain my friend was experiencing did not return and I don’t know if it should be a warning for future attacks or not.

I met with my Pastor about this, and he saw this as something that was a reminder not to be ignorant of the devil’s devices, and how he makes his way into our homes, lives and churches. He talked about the subtlety of the enemy, and how the first part of the dream, it didn’t look to be too bad, scary or threatening to have this guy in the house; but each time he returned it was worse. We also talked about the power of agreement and warfare prayer.

Eph. 6:12 “This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world.” (God’s Word Version)

Your thoughts?

Yes, Drew..............death is a part of Life.

In these last days/weeks of my Sister-in-Law Mary's life, I started to ponder how I might answer some of the questions that may come from my oldest grandson Drew (He's 3 1/2). Questions that a lot of adults quit asking a long time ago because they didn't like the answers.

Drew is being raised in the church, and he would be prone to asking something like, "Why don't we just pray and ask God to heal Aunt Mary?" So, I in turn would have to say, "We are praying for her, and we truly believe that God IS a healer." But, if she doesn't get healed..............., well, I think Marv answered that one for me last week when we were discussing it. He said something like this, "If God healed everyone, than no one would ever die, and there wouldn't be anyone in heaven with Him!" So, I guess that would be my answer to Drew. God IS a healer and God does heal, but not EVERYONE gets healed here on earth.

This took me deeper in thought to the point of, well, the beginning. God intended for us to live forever and to live together with Him like it was in the Garden. But, when sin entered the world, God could no longer stay here. We will still live forever, but now we have a choice to make. "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them." (Deut. 30:19-20)
For the believer, that 'land that He swore to give us' is our eternal home - heaven.

It also brought me to anticipate his next question, which might be something like, "Then if God wants us all to be with Him anyway, why do we have to live on earth in the first place?" And, my answer might be something like this, "Drew, God gives us the opportunity here on earth to practice loving others the way He loves us, and in most cases, that takes a LOT of practice! Aunt Mary showed a lot of love to a lot of people in the 50 or so short years she had here, and well, I guess her mission here on earth was complete, so God called her home.

It is with great sadness, but also joy that MaryAnn left us this morning to be with the Lord. We will miss you for now Mary, but we will see you soon! <3 Love you, Liz