Greetings from Team Arandis/Rehoboth
To the many of you who do not know me, I am Don Berthiaume and I will be one of the six members of Team Arandis/Rehoboth. Other (TAR) members that I will have the privilege of serving in Namibia with are Darin and Shari Shaw, Amanda Lafave, Brian Raj and Jackie Livsey. You will likely be seeing my name on these posts quite a bit over the next couple of weeks since I will be the, as Darin so fondly refers to, "internet rat" for our group.It is my hope that the words you read will not only be mine, but also be the words, thoughts and observations of everyone in our group while we are in Arandis and Rehoboth, working with Hope's Promise Orphan Ministries.
Briefly, unlike Darin and Amanda, this trip to Namibia will be the first for Shari, Brian, Jackie and myself. I think this will be Darin's 6th or 7th trip and Amanda's 3rd. It's exciting that Shari will finally be accompanying Darin and share this ministry together. Like Shari, the rest of us rookies also share a connection with Namibia; Jackie and I are the parents of three dancers from the Melissa Hoffman Dance Center (1 for her, 2 for me) who accompanied the Namibia G.O. Team 2005 and Brian's twin brother Jeff made the trip a few years ago, in 2004, if I'm not mistaken.
As I was going through a folder recently, I came across something that I had saved that appeared in the weekend bulletin of the church I had been attending in 2001. Whether you are one of the 29 individuals preparing for this upcoming trip or simply preparing to continue your daily life tomorrow, I thought it might be worth sharing with you as it touches upon many of the things and circumstances we might encounter....along the way.
AND GOD SAID NO
I asked God to take away my pride, and God said, No.
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole, and God said, No.
He said her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience, and God said, No.
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation; it isn't granted, it's earned.
I asked God to give me happiness, and God said, No.
He said He gives blessings; happiness is up to me.
I asked God to spare me pain, and God said No.
He said, "Suffering draws you apart from worldy cares and brings you closer to me."
I asked God to make my spirit grow, and God said, No.
He said I must grow on my own, but He will prune me to make me more fruitful.
I asked God if He loved me, and God said YES!!!
He gave His only Son who died for me, and I will be in Heaven someday because I believe.
I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me, and God said...
"Ah, finally you have the idea."
posted by Don @ 10:53 PM
