Redemption Wins IV

Buck celebrating! V is for VICTORY!!

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Therefore there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me on that day..."
                                                              2 Timothy 4:8

Today I want to some how wrap up this series of blogging for 2017.  A little over three months ago the Lord challenged me to journal a little everyday about our family's story. That obedience led to writing the blogs. First, it was primarily about our son Buck, but then about the seasons of life and now Christ's redemption. It really all ties together. I could never write about what the Lord has taught me through the life of my son, without experiencing Jesus redeeming power in my life personally. None of us would survive the various seasons of life if not for having a hope within that God could bring something good in spite of present circumstances.

So just briefly I want to share from my heart and take this chance to convince you (if you're not already) that redemption works, it's real, and it's for You!

Precious friends in South Africa

For a moment, let's go back to Africa. ( I would literally do that tomorrow if I could! )

On our first visit in 2012, the Lord opened a very specific  door called Lewenslig. (The w sounds like a v. leven-slig) Lewenslig is a disability home that we have visited each trip. In 2015, Thomas and I went back a third time, but this experience was different. Our team from the U.S. partnered with wonderful South Africans from a local church there. It was the pure love of Jesus that was displayed!

We went to minister, conducting a "day camp" of sorts, but the residents ministered to us just as much as we did to them!

God spoke to us on that trip. "You need to duplicate this, not just in Africa, but in other countries around the world!"

We felt it was time to pursue becoming World Missionaries.

So here we are, after nearly 30 years of marriage, in a new season of life. We are empty nester's, grandparents, and about to join (our budget is almost there) a new ministry called CompassionLink. compassionlink.org

We (you and me) are the "link" to the hurtinrg around us! They need to hear the redemption story too! Our heart is truly for people with disabilities. Our prayer is that they come to have a personal relationship with Jesus and find their place in the body of Christ. Every person has a purpose!

Thomas praying with the sweet people at Lewenslig.

Over the years I've had to repeatedly make the choice to give Jesus my "stuff"....and there has been a lot of it! I'm referring to my many thoughts, feelings, dreams, doubts, frustrations, cares and worries, etc. etc. Can you relate?! He has redeemed each one--unless--I chose to take it back. (Yeah, that happens to all of us and all too often, but let's try and not go there!) So we, as an act of our will, give our every moment to Him, knowing full well that He already knows the end of the story!

And although every one of our stories are different, we all have the same need- to recover (or discover!) our dependence on God. Otherwise, we'll find ourselves going at life alone, and we know we won't survive. The Lord did not create us to redeem ourselves. We need a Savior!

 So why do I say "Redemption Wins" so much? For me it's the difference in feeling like everything's gonna be alright (even when you don't know how) and feeling like you have no hope (so why even try).

So I choose to believe in His redemption. We're all gonna trust in something. Let's make it the one and only thing that lasts and really works! Jesus is Victorious. He has conquered all and through Him, I can overcome life's changes and challenges! It sounds like a "pat" answer until you live it out...again and again! Then it becomes the go to response for each situation that comes our way. Big sigh and smile...God's Got this!

Tommy Aaron Buck

The day our son passed away, God knew the path we would take. The old song says, "I'm so glad I've learned to trust in Jesus..."  Many times for me the key word is learned! I may not get it the first time, but He is patient to walk with me and be my guide!  Life is a journey. He must be our compass!

We still miss Buck like crazy, but we know where he is. He left us a challenge to make it to heaven just as he did. The football picture of him at the top is just how I picture him when he entered heaven. An excitable big, "YES!" on his lips, just like when someone made a touchdown. So may we continue on through this life, knowing at any moment the trumpet could sound and Jesus will take us home to be together Forever!!

 Hebrews 9:12, "...Jesus has obtained an ETERNAL REDEMPTION for us!"

Thomas & Angelia Carpenter
Evan, Jenel & Packson Nesbitt
Michael & Lexa Pope, Noah & Roux

To read more about our missionary adventure go to: s1.ag.org/hisability

Redemption Wins III

Excited children in Zambia with their Buck's Toys items.

When we returned from that first trip in 2012, we began getting phone calls. "What kind of toys are you taking to Africa? I want to donate! What size? What type.."  Kind friends and acquaintances saw the pictures we posted and graciously wanted to help. Initially, I thanked them, but turned down the offer, and let them know we didn't know if we would ever go back. God had given us this one unbelievable redemptive trip and maybe that was all?.... But the phone calls kept coming. I finally told Thomas that I was going to accept any donations offered. God would bless people for giving and we believed that He would also tell us what to do with the toys. Our garage began to fill up very quickly!

Amazing UCA students prepping for Africa.

Early 2012 I was talking with Chi Alpha missionary, Matt Carpenter. (No relation, but we would definitely claim him as family!) I knew he had made many trips to Africa, so I told him about our donations and asked how we could possibly get things sent over. His reply at that moment dumbfounded me. "I'm taking a team of students this summer. We'll carry 100 bags of items for you."

I thought my heart would burst! The collections became very intentional then and soon we had enough for 250 children to have a notebook, pencil, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a toy, all in one bag.

Evan Nesbitt in Africa, 2013

It was an honor to meet with the amazing, on fire, UCA (University of Central Arkansas) students. We shared our story and thanked them for helping to fulfill our sons wish while meeting the needs of others. Little did we know that our incredible future son in law was on this team. We would connect with him a few months later.



Redemption has a domino effect. When it begins, only God knows where it will go and how many lives it will touch in the process.

As 2014 began, UCA committed to carrying bags over once again. This time we bought bigger bags that could carry more items. People graciously continued to donate and our number of children reached more than doubled.

Precious friends in their Buck's Toys shirts.

Buck's school also asked to help. The children gave items and even stuffed the bags to send over. More redemption! Thomas and I never asked for any toys or other items, and to this day have not. I'm convinced when God wants to do something, He puts it in the hearts of His people to be His hands and feet. Willing vessels say yes and are so blessed because of it.

The Lord blessed us to be able to return to Africa in 2014, only this time with our daughters. Many friends purchased a t-shirt that helped make our dream of getting to go back and take Jenel and Lexa a reality.

About this time we created a website for people interested in what we began to call, "Buck's Toys." www.buckstoys4africa.org

Our family in Zambia, 2014

We never imagined giving away Buck's own toys would turn into a continual ministry. Only God knew (and still knows) where that first trip would eventually lead and how it would change the course of our life's ministry completely.

... to be continued...

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Redemption Wins II

There is an old Carmen song from my high school days that says, "Your desire is the confirmation, the destination is there. God wouldn't put it in your spirit, if it wasn't goin' nowhere. So set your sights on the promises and don't you be scared. Cause your desire is the confirmation, the destination is there!" So true. The big challenge is to trust God's timing. Just when we think it will never happen, or that God's forgotten, He shows up and shows out! Meaning, He shows His glory, might and power on our behalf. I call it a "suddenly"! Here it is, what you've been waiting for. Yet many times it doesn't look exactly like we thought it would..... it's better!

Ron and Karen Barnard

January, 2012. My husband Thomas and I were invited to a missions conference. We were needing a little getaway. It was a season of life like never before. Just 3 months prior, our 8 year old son Buck, and my sweet mother in law, Nelma, had been killed in a car accident. Grief can at times, make you immobile; you don't want to go anywhere or see anyone. It just takes more effort than you have. This trip was a good opportunity to get with some awesome Jesus people and have a change of pace for a few days. We were surprised and excited to see some old friends, Ron and Karen Barnard. It had been a while, so we enjoyed catching up about ministry, family, and just life in general. 

The conference was coming to a close when Ron asked us an unexpected question. "Hey, I'm going to Africa this October. Why don't you guys come with me?" ...What?! Africa?!!  We discussed different ministry opportunities and things we might be involved in if we went.

The fact was, Thomas and I had already been talking about what the "one year anniversary" would be like for us. We didn't want to be sitting around staring at each other feeling sorry for ourselves. We wanted to be busy doing something for God. Now, God was inviting us to be in Africa on that date. It felt right.

Girls home receiving toys on October 20, 2012

Boys home receiving toys on October 20, 2012

Monday, March 6 Thomas & I were in Buck's room looking through some of his things. Buck was in the third grade when he passed. I found some papers from Kindergarten that I hadn't looked at in years. One assignment jumped out at me. It was a list of fill in the blank questions.

 Number 6 leaped off the page. I wish every kid could have toys to play with in Africa. 

Have What? Where??! I barely remembered this assignment and certainly did NOT remember him talking about Africa!

Thomas and I knew what we wanted to do.  I called our missionary friend Ron, told him about the paper we had found and asked if there would be an opportunity to hand out some toys while we are there?  His answer was, "Absolutely!" 
 

This gave us positive motivation to do some cleaning out in Buck's room. We went through all of his toys gathering small ones that would be easy to pack and hand out. He had lots of cars, animals, balls, and a few small stuffed animals. Some friends heard what we were doing and readily donated items for girls. When October rolled around we were set to bless at least 100 kids. 

Ron's wife Karen and I had been asked to speak at a women's conference our first weekend in country. In preparation, I asked if there was a certain topic they wanted covered or a conference theme? Yes indeed, it was Redemption. It really didn't hit me until I began to prepare my message, the significance of the trip. We were going for more that one reason. It had been 24 years since I first had the desire to go to Africa. Back in college, our trip had been canceled for reasons beyond my control. God had closed the door at that time, knowing full well what the future held for me.

So as the Lord would have it, on Saturday, October 20, 2012, on the one year anniversary of our sons passing, I spoke about God's great redemption for us. I witnessed it first hand as I told the ladies that day of my desire to come to Africa 24 years prior. It was as if God said, not yet. I am saving that fulfillment for when you will need it most. It was such personal healing for me to speak on that day. Can you see why I love redemption so much?! But God wasn't finished yet.

Lewenslig Disability Home

 We had no idea where or when we would hand out toys during the trip. Saturday, after the service, one of the pastors offered to take us to their children's homes that the church had established. These were school age boys and girls who had been rescued off the streets. I cannot describe the emotions I felt as we handed out Bucks toys that day. Unbelievable fulfillment. If anyone had told us on the day of Buck's passing, that exactly one year later we would be in Africa handing out our son's toys, we would've never believed it! We had fulfilled Buck's wish, at least to a few.

This was life changing! This was healing in the face of great pain. Redemption was winning over our loss. We gave God our hurt and He redeemed it. In a beautiful way, He took our greatest trial and allowed Joy to come to others who needed it just as much as we did. His ways are above our ways. His thoughts above our thoughts. His ways are past finding out! (Isaiah 55)

On Sunday night, Thomas shared about our burden to reach precious people with disabilities. After service a young man let us know that his uncle ran a group home just down the street from the church. The next morning we were there handing out more toys and sharing the love of Jesus. God was continuing to fill up the emptiness of our hearts as we gave out to others.

Red Hill Settlement on Buck's Birthdate

If that wasn't enough, ten days later, October 30th, the Lord opened the door for us to hand out toys one more time at a poor informal settlement. This would've been Buck's 10th birthday. Many children received a gift that day in his memory.

I will forever be amazed at that trip to Africa. Jesus met us there. He knew when I should go and that it would not be my last!....

to be continued....

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"Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with Him is FULL REDEMPTION!" Psalm 130:7

Redemption Wins I

Can I tell you just a little bit about my story of redemption? To get the whole story, you've got to know it doesn't begin and end with how or when I got saved, that is, when I asked Jesus into my heart. That is the number one decision anyone can make, but that's just where the redemption journey begins! It is with out a doubt a lifelong experience that Jesus wants to take with you! I'll start with a natural example that just begins to scratch the surface of what trusting Jesus has done for me.

Yearbook picture, 1988

In college we had a required amount of exercise per week. At the end of the semester came the fitness test. I recall showing up at the indoor track at the appointed time for my mile run. Back then I wasn't overweight, but to say I was athletic would be a stretch! Our coach stood ready with timer in hand and told me when to begin. I took off best I could trying to concentrate and keep a good pace. As I rounded the track there was a window where students who were passing by could see part of the track. As I approached I noticed a certain guy standing there chatting with a friend. I'm thinking, keep your head down, he won't see you. Too late. He looked me straight in the eye rather surprised, then hollered, "Go Angelia!" Oh Great! All a girl wants is to be watched while she's huffing, puffing and sweating! As embarrassed as I was, it was great motivation to keep going...and fast! Each time I came around the track he was there cheering me on. I ran the best time I ever had and even beat another girl's time who was much more fit than me. Encouragement and motivation go a long way to helping us finish strong! LOL

It may sound crazy that this is how I feel about the concept of Redemption. Redemption often comes along beside me and runs the race with me, giving me the strength to keep going.  I come around a hard place in life, huffing and puffing and there He is on the sidelines, watching and cheering me on.  It's Jesus, He's our Redeemer. He redeems, or you could say, makes new. Redemption is what comes as the result of Jesus coming along side us.  He desires to be with you through everything you will ever face; sickness, fear, worry, financial struggles, family battles, work related circumstances... the list is endless, but so is His love.

May I tell you, it works for your grief too. Over the past 6 years the Lord has given me so many undeniable and very tangible examples of His love for me. It is just second nature to look for, welcome, and expect Jesus to redeem my situations. As I continually give whatever it is over to Him, (Easier said than done, yes! Key word, continually!) He remains true to His Word and redeems or brings something good from each difficult situation. That's what He does because that's who He is!

So when I feel too weary to keep going, I'm physically drained or experiencing a tough "spiritual run" that has made me weary in spirit and body... I follow my Redeemer's lead. I get in step with Him and listen for His voice to guide and encourage me. I always run my "best time" with Him!

I laugh remembering that fitness test. I would probably collapse if I ran like that today! My mile time would not even be close. Yet I am thankful that nearly 30 years later, I can look back and see how God was working my redemption story even then. A huge part of it began while in college and I wouldn't know it until many years later.

The year was 1988. I was 18 and just finishing up my first year of Bible college. There were several missions trips planned for the summer. Prayerfully, students could choose any trip they could raise money for and that worked in their schedule. There was also a interview with a faculty member. It was mostly formality, but necessary to the process. It was an honor to get to go.

From the very beginning, without hardly looking at the list, I knew I wanted to go to Africa. God just put that desire on my heart. I didn't have a friend who was begging me to go with, nor did I know of a certain missionary that had been there. It was just a knowing. Africa was my choice.

I'll never forget when I entered the office for my interview. The man who I was meeting was sitting at his desk, but it was behind a petition. I couldn't see him, but he could see me. As I stepped in the room, he called out, "Hello Angelia! Welcome to Africa!" My heart leaped! I was surprised to hear him, but mostly it was my spirit that leaped. I felt a unique excitement and anticipation like never before. God was going to do BIG things!! I just knew it.

Little did I know, it would actually be 24 years before I would step foot in Africa and God was going to do something I never would have imagined!!....

to be continued....