Caleb’s Return

Greetings to All!

It’s been a while now since I last posted anything on here! And now, after far too long, I have a few things to report to you.

First of all, I’m back in the States! I flew in a few months ago, after spending 8 months in Africa working to get The Christ’s Initiative Children’s Home up and running. Also, during my time spent there, we expanded the Feed the hunger program, initiated the Education Empowerment Program (or, E.E.P) and met a ton of amazing people!

We expanded the Feed the Hunger program by, rather then serve lunch to just those who come on Tuesdays, to bringing tea and sandwiches to the street kids in the early morning. It was amazing to get to know these kids and begin building relationships with them. We hope to build off these relationships and begin to do more for these homeless children.

The Home is running well, Pastor Phillip and his wife, Suzanne, are running it and are basically parents to the children living there. Our goal with the home was to make it a home, in the spiritual sense of the word, not just a shelter, and so we have worked to create a safe, loving, family atmosphere. I believe that through the grace of God, we have brought it to that point. It was so humbling and amazing to watch as each child was brought in. How they started as strangers to one another and to us, scared and intimidated, but as time went on we all meshed and evolved into a family. Nothing warmed my heart more then to hear the kids, laughing, playing, talking, and spending time with one another. One would never guess that only a short while ago these kids had never met one another. They have become a family. The kids attend school, help out in our garden, and play. They love to draw, play soccer, and dance. Things got pretty crazy in the house when we’d all turn up the music and do some African dancing!

There are no other two people I would have wanted to leave the children and responsibilities of the organization on that end with then Phillip and his wife. They truly love the Lord and love the kids as their own. It was a blessing to watch as we all grew and learned a lot about one another and ourselves through our time spent together.

I would never trade my time spent there for anything, and at the same time, I’m glad to be home. I learned a lot while there, about God, myself, and life in general. I was challenged many times, and I was quite humbled. But through it all God saw me through, and I feel He has built me more into the man He desires I be. A lot of people tell me that they wish they had done something like this at my age, or that they wish that they could just go to Africa. But one of the things I took away from my time there is that God has a plan for each one of us, and if that is to go to Africa, then awesome! But He has also called some of us to be a pillar in our communities, a light at school, a friend to the friendless, just because He hasn’t called you to Africa doesn’t mean He hasn’t called you, just seek His will. I didn’t know what to do after high school, but I figured a good place to start was James 1:27: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” If you’re not sure exactly what you’re called to do, just start doing! He’ll take care of you!

There is still a lot of work to be done and we certainly do not know perfectly where the Lord is leading all of this and us. But we thank God and continue to seek His will and continue to give Him the glory for all of the amazing things He has done. We are just humbled and blessed to be a part of His plan. He truly loves these children.

Christ’s Initiative would like to thank all of you for your continued prayers and support, there is still a long ways to go, but we would never have made it this far without you all. You have all been part of God’s awesome plan.

God bless you all!

In Love,

Caleb