Trust me with your isaac

I first came across this poem in College. I still look back to it as a great reminder. Hope it bless you too:

Trust Me with Your Isaac

For every Abraham who dares

to kiss a foreign field

where glory for a moment grasped

Is for a lifetime tilled…

The voice of God

speaks not but once

but ‘til traveler hears

“Abraham! Abraham! Bring your Isaac here!”

“Bring not the blemished sacrifice.

What lovest thou the most?

Look not into the distance,

you’ll find your Isaac close.”

“I hear the tearing of your heart

torn between two loves,

the one your vision can behold

the Other hid above.”

“Do you trust me, Abraham

with your gravest fear?

Will you pry your fingers loose

and bring your Isaac here?”

“Have I not made you promises?

Hold them tight instead!

I am the Lover of your soul—

the Lifter of your head.”

“Believe me, O my Abraham

when blinded by the cost.

Arrange the wooded altar

and count your gains but loss.”

“Let tears wash clean your blinded eyes until unveiled you see—

the ram caught in the thicket there

to set your Isaac free.”

“Perhaps I’ll send him down the mount

to walk right by your side.

No longer in your iron grasp

but safer still in mine.”

“Or I may wrap him in the wind

and sweep him from your sight

to better things beyond your reach—

believe with all your might!”

“Look up, beloved Abraham.

Can you count the stars?

Multitudes will stand to reap

from one dear friend of God.”

“Pass the test, my faithful one;

bow to me as Lord.

Trust me with your Isaac—

see,

I am your great Reward.”

Fellow Missioners

Dear Fellow Missioners,

Make Way Partners often uses the title “fellow missioners” to address our supporters. Honestly, I never gave it much thought, until recently.

Just a few days ago, David wrote me an email about an employee at Mtn Brook High School who asked David if he could play a role in our journey to Congo. He was earnestly excited about us going, and wanted to help.

I also reflect on the many members of Brookwood and St. Elias who have shared with us their desire to be a part of our journey. Then I reflect back to the title “fellow missioners”. I am beginning to see that me and David going to Congo isn’t really just “our journey”. In a sense, it is all of our journeys. We are all ‘fellow missioners’. While all of our role

s may look different, we are all fellow missioners, on the same Mission…. This is HIS Mission and HIS Journey for us.

Since working with Make Way Partners, I have seen the weight and necessity of ‘fellow missioners’. It was the fellow missioners’ prayers that God used to prevent my mother’s plane crash just a few weeks ago. It was the fellow missioners’ prayers that God used to bring Baby Elijah in Sudan from near death to vibrant life. It was the fellow missioners’ donations and support that God used to build dormitories, schools and churches for over 1,000 orphans who would have most certainly died without their help. It was the fellow missioners’ willingness to go on short term trips to Sudan and Romania that God used to bring hope, education and healing to those that feared they were forgotten.

I find great comfort in knowing this move to Congo isn’t just me and David going alone. We are all a big web supporting each other. Have you ever wondered why

God gave us each different gifts? Why am I gifted with mercy, but not with organization and administration? Why is David gifted with teaching and leadership? Why are some able to make money every time they blink an eye and others are natural preachers? Wouldn’t it be easier to ‘have it all’. Perhaps if we did ‘have it all’ we would miss the very importance of relying on each other. The fact is we need you, fellow missioners... We cannot do this alone-its impossible!

I am honored to be on this journey with you all. We will keep you posted on our end of the journey and would love to hear from you on your end of the journey!

Love- your fellow missioner,

Whitney

Ways to get involved with W and D going to Congo:

Pray!

- Please pray for David as he is finishing up his last few weeks at Mountain Brook High School and joins the Make Way Partners team!

- Please pray for our financial support to be raised. We will begin relying off this support this June!

- Please pray for Sister Alvera, the women and children. Want to help them directly?

o Click Here to find out how: http://www.makewaypartners.org/documents/FlameofLoveProposal_000.pdf

Give!

Ø David and I are looking for supporters who can give a monthly pledge! Click Here if you would like to help (designate it for Whitney and David Milton) https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/MakeWayPartners/OnlineDonation.html

Go!

There are wonderful short term opportunities! Check out this link: http://www.makewaypartners.org/mission_teams.html

These are the children that Sister Alvera has taken in. What a blessing to hear them sing!

Answering the Call

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40

Throughout the past few years, the Lord has been trying to get our attention to the meaning of this verse. He has given us many opportunities in our own backyard and around the world to meet and serve His “least of these.” As we meditate on and wrestle with how in the world to live out this verse, a common theme arises: Christ has a special place in His heart for the orphan, the widow, and the suffering; and regardless if we are in the jungles of Peru or teaching at Mountain Brook High School, our calling as Christians, whatever our vocation, is first and foremost to love those He loves and do what we can to help them.

We recently began asking the Lord for our particular call as a married couple. We do not know the full answer to this question, but feel the Lord guiding us one step closer. For the past 3 years, Whitney has been working for Make Way Partners (MWP). MWP is a Birmingham based non-profit that prevents and combats human trafficking. Make Way Partners’ passion is to go where children are at most risk and with the fewest resources. This has led them straight to the heart of war, civil conflict, extreme poverty and lawless lands such as Sudan, Peru, Romania and Congo.

This June, David will resign from his position at Mountain Brook High School and is joining Make Way Partners. In the summer of 2012, we are moving to the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa, to serve alongside a faithful Catholic Sister who cares for the least of these in Congo.

In 2007, Alvera asked her convent if she could remain a member, but move out from their midst, and into the impoverished streets of Goma. She wanted to live among the poor, oppressed, raped, angry, sick, and hungry. Though the convent had no means to support her, they allowed her to go on her own.

Sister Alvera has left everything behind, including the safe cloister of her convent to serve the most desperate of the least of these. She rents a small home, but it is far too small to accommodate all of the women and children she cares for. Sister Alvera has had to rely upon a tarp-covered hovel to provide for 35 children that were considered “throw-a-ways”: the orphans, handicapped, and rape-survivors. She also protects many widows and adult rape survivors who are now outcasts due to their oppression.

She calls her ministry “Flamme d'Amour” (Flame of Love.) Through Flame of Love, Alvera cares for children like Hortense Shakulu and Tumusifu Clementine. Hortense was gang raped by soldiers when she was six. Tumusifu is four years; Tumu was raped last year, when she was three.

Although both little girls have a long way to go, Sister Alvera prays with and over them every single day. She lives her life as a prayer for these children, and the healing love of Christ is apparent in them.

Sister Alvera is in desperate need for extra hands to help. We want to join sister Alvera and give her and the children the support they need. But we need your help. As missionaries, we need to raise our own support. Each year we need to raise $125,000 to cover our salary, travel, and ministry expenses.

In preparation to serve as missionaries in Goma, we will undergo intense training through Make Way Partners. This will include multiple training and observation trips to Congo and other MWP orphanages. MWP was founded with the mission to protect those at highest risk to human trafficking. We go to locations where no other help is available because it is considered either "too" dangerous, "too" expensive or "too" remote for most people to go. Since these locations are so remote, transport in and out requires costly, independent charter planes.

There are three powerful ways we ask you to partner with us in our missionary journey:

PRAY – Sometimes we overlook prayer as a given, but we know we cannot do this alone. We need the prayers of our family, friends, church, and community. We believe that God desires to build His kingdom through all of us. Your prayers are like invisible swords fighting the unseen war.

SHARE – Please spread the word about us and Make Way Partners! Word of mouth is the best vehicle to increase awareness. We will be speaking to churches and various groups, and we welcome any invitation to share our story with anyone who will listen. If you know of an audience with whom we can share in any capacity, please let us know!
Email us at: Whitneym@makewaypartners.org and Davidm@makewaypartners.org

GIVE – As we step out in faith, all of our livelihood will come from monthly support pledged by friends and family. Please consider a one-time gift to build our foundation and a monthly pledge to support us.
To Give Online: www.makewaypartners.org; designation: Whitney and David to Congo, or mail your checks to the address on this stationary.

Thank you for your partnership, for being part of our life. We thank God that He gives us opportunities to partner together in His kingdom work that makes a difference in our world.

In Christ’s Name,

David and Whitney Milton