I feel like there is someone that needs to hear this today.
I feel like there is someone that needs to hear this today.
December 12, 203
Usually these newsletters are all about the massive harvest and marvelous miracles occurring among the lives of children being rescued from death by starvation and slavery around the world through our #WEFEED program and our hundreds of students (Pastors) being equipped in 7 nations through FMBI - BUT - TODAY - its about the plunge I took on April 18, 2021 and the season of waiting.
Dearest Partners and cherished friends,
Everything changed in my life when Ray stepped over into heaven. Hope4Them and The Bible School was the light of our lives. Ray loved the work so much. He wasn't a minister but his love changed so many lives. My heart broke and honestly, I was not sure how I would continue. We had started this journey of hope together with a passion to take hope to the world. If you ever met Ray, you know his kind and generous heart of love was his ministry. I realized one day, looking through the pictures of our life, he was always standing behind me. I miss that the most.
I had a lot of thoughts and questions. I still ask myself, "what would Ray agree with?" He hardly ever told me WHAT to do, but was quick to tell me what NOT to do. (: I went with what he agreed to. He told me, you do what God says, I'll keep the lights on.
He was an engineer until his last breath. We loved working together, so he trained me, turned me into a successful Coatings (paint) Sales Rep. We were a power team! Already our efforts were yielding a great harvest. I loved it when he retired and could go with me. After he left, I stepped fully into the global vision God had called me. But as the weeks turned into months, and now into more than 2 years, each season only became more challenging.
These last 30 months have tried my soul. Being in ministry does not exempt anyone from the same challenges everyone else faces. From finances, family issues, car breakdowns, aches and pains, adult children issues and so forth. Just add your own difficulties to the list. Remember though, we are no where near done.
And here is the MOST absolute best thing of all - HOPE4THEM and FMBI have flourished!! Just keep reading - it gets better and better.
So, in my own intimate struggles and through my tears, I had to navigate the oceans, literally, to guide the growth, grow the leadership team, fend off opportunist, scammers, betrayal, and take on new countries, new projects, and expand my thinking to accommodate the vision God had given me. After all, He is the boss!
Please take a look at this:
From a miniscule feeding program to the launch of #WEFEED, taking on at first, about 1,000 parentless, malnourished kids on Idjwi Island to another 1,000+ refugee kids fleeing for their lives from the vicious M23 Rebel Army, killing anyone in their way in Northern Congo near Goma.
From never ever conducting a women's ministry - to the discovery of hundreds of abandoned, widowed women in the same area who were held captive after their husbands were brutally killed, putting them in the hands of the killers. They were taken captive, raped, starved, enslaved and then either dumped on Idjwi Island or released over in Goma. Bottom line: they had nothing but the clothes on their backs, the children they went into captivity with and the ones that were born in captivity, no home, no food, no where to go.
We fed them, gave them a new name - no longer the raped women - now - they are Women of Hope!
Never once thought of buying goats. But we did. Nearly a hundred pregnant goats - who have had goats - who have had goats - who are having goats!! Those women loved the gift of a goat. We started "mini-start ups" to create sustainable jobs!
Meanwhile, back home, my struggle continued. While the ministry exploded around the world - I held my head in my hands searching my heart to hear God's voice with a clear directive for me. But mostly it was the devil's whisper of "give up, move away, its over for you," - my answer to that voice was I began writing 2 books, The Journey of Hope and Labels. I sure hope you'll order one when I finish!! I commissioned my teams in S. E. Asia and East Africa to expand! Seek new ways to create greater evangelism results and community education.
FMBI just kept getting stronger in the Philippines placing a huge demand on me to lead the staff there into a deeper academic standing and expand our reach. While I wanted to hide in my room - the vision was leading us to launch out from Mindanao to Cebu, Visayas and Luzon, and S.E. Asia; Malaysia, Indonesia
Invitations came in from Brazil, Tanzania, Burundi, and more in East Africa -GROWTH is all around us!
Our staff went from Becher and I with a teaching staff of 8, to an Executive Admn. staff of 8 and a teaching staff of 12, one main campus on Mindanao to 8 Hubs (sub-campuses) and an expected 8 or more Hubs in East Africa.
Now in the midst of preparing for a Re-Launch in East Africa - January 23, 2023 - taking Becher and Bishop Raffa and Tina Rios from Mexico are joining us to assist in Training and Teaching.
Here is your take away: Never give up. Time after time, God visited me in dreams and visions - my expectations was to step over into the promise immediately - time after time - a big "wait" was in the plan. At times, I thought I would literally die. The agony in the wait produces strength. When others said I couldn't do it - by the anointing I could run. I'm not one to "nap", I don't have time. I am never sick. (last time I was sick - Feb 4, 2021)
Its no joke to be able to run and not be weary, to walk and not feel faint, to weep and sob loudly while you swing the sickle and gather the harvest. It's possible to stand alone and lean back on the arms of Jesus. It's possible to make something massive, when you have nothing. Its possible to be the rescuer when you need rescuing.
What is impossible is to ignore the harvest. To turn a head from something we can do something about. Don't look at what you've lost - look at what you have left. What's in your basket?
My sweet departed friend Ida May Weatherford sent me a declaration years ago. One line impacted me greatly-When He comes, he'll know me, by the banner of love over me. Love is expensive - it has cost me everything.
The Apostle Paul said I may be knocked down, but I'm not knocked out. No matter your circumstance, get up. God isn't done with you or you wouldn't be reading this.
OK ya'll get ready. We've got lots to do in 2024.
Thank you for walking with me through the harvest fields of the world. I am forever grateful.
Robin
Thank you for your continued support through 2023. Your YEAR END gift is welcomed which you can give today through ZELLE, VENMO, $CASHAP or go to HOPE4THEMNOW.ORG, open the MENU and click on DONATE. Learn more about FMBI AT THEFMBI.COM