The Ten Commandments for Serving with Every Orphan's Hope

Some of you know that Les and I will be joining up with a group of people from all across North America this summer (2012) in order to serve orphans in Zambia, Africa. We will not be working with kids that are in orphanages, but with children that have very little food, very little protection and very little love. These kids have nothing. This level of extreme poverty and abject need is virtually unknown in developed regions of the world, but in Africa today, it rages on. And we feel called to do something about it!

As part of our training, we are asked to consider and pray over these "10 Commandments of Serving":

1.       Thou shalt not expect to find things as thou has them at home for thou has left thy home.         Philippians 4:11, “...I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am in.”

 2.       Thou shalt not take anything too seriously, for a carefree mind is the beginning of a fulfilling trip.  I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.”

 3.       Thou shalt not let the other team members get on thy nerves. Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

 4.       Remember thy passport, that thou knowest where it is at all times.  For a man without a passport is a man without a country.  Romans 13:7

 5.        Remember to take only half the clothes thou has planned to pack and twice the amount of money.  Matthew 6:31, “Don’t be anxious then, saying “What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or With what shall we clothe ourselves?’”

 6.       Remember if thou were expected to stay in one place, thou would have been created with roots.  Matthew 4:19, “And He said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’”

 7.       Thou shalt not worry.  He that worrieth hath no pleasure.  Few things are ever fatal.  Mark 9:23, “And Jesus said to him,’...All things are possible to him who believes.’”

 8.       Thou shalt not judge the people of a country by the one person with whom thou has had trouble.  Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, lest you be judged yourselves.”

 9.        Thou shalt not make yourself too obviously an American “tourist” lest you offend those with whom you come in contact.   I Cor. 10:33 “Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they might be saved.

10.       Remember thou art a guest in every land.  And he that treateth his host with respect shall be treated with respect.  Romans 12:10, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.”