News about My Mom

Many of you have asked for an update on my mom. So, I thought this would be the best way to get the information out. About two weeks ago, my mom had 'irregular cell' activity that showed up on a PET scan. This was alarming to all of us since she is 15 months past her last treatment from breast cancer. In a matter of seven days, we discovered this – and the mass was surgically removed. The growth was the size of a cantaloupe. However, the slice that was taken for initial biopsy and examination came back benign, so we were relieved. On Friday, my mom received a phone call from the doctor saying that the rest of the growth had been sent off for testing, and they had discovered a rare malignancy nestled inside the benign growth. I had never heard of this before. So, on Friday, my mom was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma. We still don't know much (and we were told not to do research on-line). We do know that this type of cancer has two major characteristics. It is sporadic and aggressive. It is also usually resistant to chemo and radiation. My parents went to the doctor yesterday – and they requested a second opinion. The doctor strongly supported that decision. He recommended the complete sarcoma center at Dana Farber Brigham and Women's Center in Boston, Massachusetts. My parents will travel there together on December 3^rd. If you would like to send my mom a card, please send to Ruthie Fentress, 1221 Stoneridge Rd. Lawrenceburg, KY 40342. If you are in Lawrenceburg, then I am sure my parents will not turn down a meal, a visit, or a favor – although they wouldn't ask for any of the three. Above all and as always, your prayers are appreciated – for my parents, my sister Julie, and me. God has really given me a peace these last few days that I know could have only come from Him. We know that none of this is a surprise to Him. He is faithful and He is able.

Evolution of a Calling

Websters.com defines evolution as “a process of gradual, peaceful, progressive change or development” and “any process of formation or growth; development.” For the past decade, I have been blessed to travel around the world and explain how God began to form my calling at an early age. At the age of 9, I began playing basketball, rode on an airplane for the first time, and became a Christian. The third grade was a big year for me as God was instilling passions inside of me that, eventually, He wanted to use for His glory. For the last ten years, He has given me ISF as an avenue to live out these passions on a daily basis. Sports, traveling, and missions are all still very important to me.

Throughout my time at ISF, God has helped raise awareness of new areas of ministry that excite and energize me. One of these is discipleship throughout the mission process. God is able to use people’s obedience to go and serve internationally to take them to a new level in their spiritual journey. I absolutely love watching and participating in this process for volunteers. For the past three years, God has also grown a desire in me to help take care of and be an advocate for the 143 million orphans around the world. The Bible is so clear that taking care of orphans and widows IS the heart of God.

As the calling that began at the age of 9 continues to evolve, it is with very mixed emotions that I share with you that I will be leaving ISF in December and taking a position working with Samaritan’s Feet in Charlotte, North Carolina. I will be the Director of the Shoes of Hope program which will mobilize people, resources, and shoes to people in need around the globe. God has been stirring and uprooting my life in Georgia for the past year or so, but I was never really sure why. In the last month, He has made that unsettledness more than obvious. I have been amazed at how He has taken care of every detail – even down to bringing my replacement at ISF before I knew this new opportunity at Samaritan’s Feet even existed. He has shown off His faithfulness over and over through this process. When I surrendered to full time ministry at the age of seventeen, I had no idea the journey that was ahead of me. This is not the way I would have written my life story. However, the story that God wants to write for our lives is better than any story that we could ever create on our own.

Scripture tells us in Ephesians that God predestines a plan for His children and works everything out according to His ultimate purpose: to glorify Himself among the nations. In order for His name to be magnified, we as His children have to evolve, grow and mature so that we can be an effective tool for the Kingdom. In reflection of this past decade, I can see the hand of God on my life. He really has worked out everything according to His own plan because there IS a bigger picture that I cannot always see. I am grateful for this process, even though it has been difficult at times. I have learned SO much about mobilization, about communicating well with others, about myself, and most importantly about God’s heart. I have made so many new friends; many of these I am sure will be lifelong relationships. The ISF staff has been an extended family to me. I really cannot put into words how grateful I am for my decade with the International Sports Federation.

God Bless you as you continue to surrender to the story that He wants to write for you – there really is no greater adventure on this side of heaven.

Tumaini has a CAR!!

Here is an excerpt from my Kenyan journal of one of my favorite days at Tumaini.

OK, yesterday was probably my favorite of all days at Tumaini….and that is saying a lot because I have had so many incredible days here. The new car has finally arrived at Tumaini! God has really exceeded everyone’s expectations with this vehicle. There are some pictures below, so check them out. Yesterday we had a party/prayer time to thank God for the provision of the vehicle and to pray safety and blessings over the car. There were many rituals/traditions in this process – and there was a HUGE celebration. Rose’s parents even traveled from a few hours away to join the celebration.

The children were precious and priceless, as always. They were invited over to Rose’s house for cokes and snacks, but they did not know what the celebration was for. The house mother, Violet, kept asking the children what they were celebrating, but none of them knew. She then took one of the girls, Ruth, outside to show her the car, and she came back in saying, “Gari, Gari!” This is the Swahili word for car. They were so excited and they began singing one of my favorite songs they sing, “Jehovah Jireh,” meaning the Lord provides.

Then, the best part. We took the kids out to look at the car. They were SO cute. Remember, many of them have never sat inside of a personal car before – and they have only been on public transportation a few times. At one point, I counted 18 beautiful children piled inside a four door sedan. They would look at their reflection in the car or in the windows and just laugh and laugh. We turned the radio up loud and the kids were dancing outside.

Next, we ate lunch. The ladies who help in the kitchen have been teasing me about how I am Kenyan now….and there are just a few more things I have to do to receive the official Kenyan stamp of approval. Earlier in the day, I had told Rose’s sister, Neddie and Rose 2 that I was feeling more and more Kenyan, and they agreed that I was ready for the chicken head. They had killed 6 chickens for the party. In Kenya , the chicken head is reserved for special guests or the head of the house…..especially the chicken brain. You read that right…..the BRAIN. So, today, I partook – and I think this makes me officially Kenyan.

I am almost finished telling you about my fabulous day, but I can’t leave this part out. I forgot to mention that I am the only one who can currently drive the new vehicle. Amanda can, too….but she just wants to practice a little bit before taking the plunge dodging potholes, bicyclists, matatus (public vans) – all while driving on the wrong side of the road. I, however, was up for the challenge and concluded my most fabulous day driving Rose, Amanda, Rose’s parents, and a few other people to Kakamega, about 30 minutes away from Tumaini. Amanda was my co-pilot, and together we maneuvered through the adventure.

I ended my near perfect day by tucking the young kids into bed – and reading

”The Chronicles of Narnia” to the older children.

Tumaini is definitely different without having an ISF team here…not better or worse, just different. I pretty much love this place every way I have experienced it. I am so grateful for this opportunity. Thanks for continuing to read.......and pray.

Kenyan Baptism

I am going to attempt over the next few weeks to recount some of my favorite memories of my extended stay in Kenya. Here is one......

The entire team had gone to Sunday School at the school with the children. After that, some of the team members decided to go to the church where several of the adults from Tumaini worship. Hesbon escorted us. We rode in a matatu with Amanda and the Roses for a few kilometers. There were 23 of us in the matatu – which is supposed to seat 14. A few minutes later, we arrived at church – and the praise and worship was already underway.

When I say praise and worship…..I mean Kenyan style. These women have the joy of the Lord that is just not very common in the US. I believe that it stems from their relationship with Christ truly sustaining them. For many people in Africa, their faith is the only constant in their life….so their worship is filled with a gratitude, joy, and reverence unlike any that I have ever seen.Hesbon asked me to choose someone besides myself to ‘give a word’ of encouragement to the congregation. Little did I know that this was because he had OTHER plans for me later on in the day….but we will get there eventually.

I asked Bellar to share, and she did a great job talking about worry and how sometimes women really struggle with worrying about the future. She shared from Matthew 6: 25-34, and it was very good. We were told that the service would be cut short because they were having a baptism service in the afternoon. The lady who was telling us about the baptism was the mother of one of the children at Tumaini – and she informed us that her daughter would be baptized at the service. This was a really cool moment for me. My first Kenyan baptism service, and God had worked it out to see one of ‘my’ Tumaini kids be baptized.

The service was short (REALLY short for a Kenyan service). Once we were dismissed we lined up in a procession for a “SHORT” walk to the river. Now, after traveling to Africa off and on for the last 8 years, I have learned that when an African says “SHORT” it really has a different meaning than when an American says “SHORT.” The procession consisted of drums, cymbals, triangles, singing, chanting, and praying. About an hour later, we reached the river. Every village that we walked past, we added a few more people to the procession. We started with around 60 people – and by the time we reached the river, there were at least 200 of us!!

After we arrived, Hesbon informed me that I would be preaching the baptismal service. Looking back, this would have been nice to know at the church, so that I could have at least had an hour to prepare my thoughts. So, literally, in about 2 minutes, I gathered my thoughts for the sermon.I am not really sure what I said, but I am quite certain that God was shining through the spontaneity and ‘unpreparedness.’ Afterwards, some of the team members were teasing me that I was a little long-winded – not to mention that I had given a theological explanation of salvation from Genesis to the New Testament.

Next, came the actual baptism. The drums and singing continued as one by one each person walked into the river to be baptized. Once they came out of the water, they literally danced out of the river. It was one of the most beautiful memories that I have of my time in Kenya. After everyone had been baptized, we began the procession back to the church.

By the end of the day, we had worshipped with new friends, walked 6 miles, and watched 5 people be baptized. It was a great day full of memories that I will never forget.

Africa Project

Does Anybody want to help me go to East Africa? On July 22nd, I will be leading a group of 19 individuals to Kenya to host a Vacation Bible School for Tumaini Miles of Smiles School and Orphanage. Feel free to check out their site www.tumainimilesofsmiles.org. Tumaini is the Swahili word for HOPE, and this place truly is a beacon of HOPE in their community. There are currently 33 orphans living in the Tumaini home ranging from 5 months to 13 years of age. There are nearly 200 students in the school from Pre-K to 6th grade. God has allowed me to invest in these people's lives for the last three years, and I am very excited to return with a new group of individuals very soon. Please contact me if you have any questions. God bless you as you seek HIS best for your life!

Sincerely,

Sara Beth


HELP SARA BETH GET TO AFRICA......

AFRICA SILLY BANDZ!!!!!

I am selling Africa Silly Bandz to support orphan care and advocacy in Africa. Please buy some bandz and tell your friends, too! If you don't want to use paypal, just message me, and I will contact you about your purchase. THANKS!!

Silly Band Pricing

One Africa Silly Band $1.00 12 Bandz $10.00 50 Bandz $40.00

Journey to JOY

The vast majority of the first 31 years of my life were filled with happiness. I had a happy childhood. Unlike most people, I absolutely LOVED middle school AND high school. I was very content in college in Tennessee. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in grad school in Texas. I have a passion for travel, and have been so blessed by many opportunities to see the world. I come from an amazing family. If I could choose any marriage to emulate, it would be my parent’s. They have been married 45 years this year and not only still love each other, but they still even like each other. Sure there were difficult times – I am not attempting to paint a picture of Wonderland – but I have known true happiness in my life.

I believe that is one reason that the last two years of my life have been so incredibly difficult. Sometimes for Christians in America it is so easy to confuse happiness with JOY. Happiness is not a negative thing, so don’t hear me say that…..but for the most part, happiness comes when your flesh is made content. Your marriage is going well. Your kids are chasing after the things of God. Your expectations are met. You receive the praise that you deserve. You feel in control of your life. You are comfortable. Things are going your way, so you are happy.

Only when things took a pause from being ideal in my life – was I really challenged on the difference between happiness and JOY. In a twelve month period – I experienced shattered expectations from a broken dating relationship, my car was totaled in an accident, I had pneumonia in the middle of a Georgia summer, my job in ministry was no longer fulfilling, and my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. The happiness rug was ripped out from under me, and I was at a loss.

Where was God and what the HECK was he doing? Peace, contentment, and JOY were nowhere to be found once my circumstances were not of MY choosing. THIS SHOULD NOT BE! The last year of my life has been what I like to call my Journey to JOY. I would like to share just a few unexpected jewels that God has given me on this journey.

First, so many times you have to FIGHT FOR JOY. Satan wants nothing more than to keep you from God’s best. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy – and ironically enough, sometimes he uses happiness to do that. We get so comfortable in the ease of life – that often we miss God’s invitation for more. Time alone with God and in His word are essential in this fight for JOY. There is a battle going on – and we have to be prepared to be the warrior that God has created us to be. True JOY usually does not come without a fight.

Next – Joy often comes with two unexpected companions – brokenness and surrender. Isn’t this the total opposite of what we would choose if we were the ones writing the story? My choice companions to joy would be celebration and peace – not brokenness and surrender. Ladies and Gentlemen, we must EMBRACE BROKENNESS in order to find the JOY of the Lord. If we say that happiness comes from the flesh needs being met, then often times God will shake loose those foundations that we have depended on more than Him. When you are willing to give God freedom to uproot idols, then pain will always come before JOY. Brokenness is not to be avoided or feared. We have been crucified with Christ (this is painful) but Christ now lives in us (this is JOYFUL). Here is the tricky part – we have to choose brokenness and surrender. God extends an invitation, but he does not force you to choose the hard road…..we can say no to the crucifixion process. Just a reminder, though, where there is a crucifixion and God is involved, there is always a resurrection! Hebrews 12:2 says, “Jesus, who for the JOY that was set before Him, endured the cross.” Enduring the cross…..PAINFUL. Expectation of heaven, JOYFUL. Get the picture? Let Christ be our example in every way, even in this pursuit of JOY.

Lastly, learning to TRUST God when things don’t make sense to us is essential to finding true JOY. Currently, my life does not make sense to me. Some of the issues that ‘stole my happiness’ in my wilderness time, have been resolved. Praise the Lord, my mother is cancer free as of her scan a few months ago. Some of my issues are not resolved. God has still not revealed to me the man of my dreams, although my standards keep getting higher and higher. My future is still uncertain, and yet I have a peace that truly does surpass all understanding. Accompanying that peace is a true JOY. If I continue to live a surrendered life, continue to fight for JOY, and continue to trust that God has the best plan for me even when I have absolutely NO CLUE what He is doing – then peace and contentment will be my companions, as well.

The uncertainty of my circumstances is but a minor detail. The JOY that God gives is beyond circumstances. JOY can be continuous in our lives because it is grounded in the unchanging nature of God and nothing else. Psalm 87:7 says, “All my springs of JOY are in you.”

What about you? Can you discern happiness from JOY in your own life? Do you find yourself in a current fight for JOY? Are you willing to be surrendered and broken as part of the process? Do you trust God even when even when you can’t make sense of what you can see?

God desires that Galatians 2:20 be our heart’s cry. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. “ When this is our heart’s desire we receive HIS PEACE , HIS JOY, HIS HOPE – so as we continue to prepare for all that God has in store for us, won’t you join me in the pursuit of JOY?

JUST DO SOMETHING -

During the past few years, we have seen a shift of focus at ISF and organizations worldwide. There are millions of hurting and needy people in the world today. Yes, ultimately they need a relationship with Christ and evangelism should be the foundation underneath every action. However, so many times the emotional and physical condition and difficult circumstances prohibit these beautiful people from being able to grasp the truth of the gospel. The old adage is still true in 2010, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

At ISF, we believe mercy ministry and humanitarian aid is at the core of how God will move in our generation. We want to be on the front-lines of merging these with the truth of the gospel of Christ.

Here are some alarming statistics:

• 6,000 people die everyday from hunger. That is one every 5 seconds.
• Human Trafficking (the selling of women and children into slavery) is the 3rd largest criminal enterprise behind drugs and weapons.
• There are an estimated 963 million hungry people in the world today.
• 6,000 children are orphaned every day due to HIV/AIDS

Are these statistics not close enough to home to be real? Let's look at Atlanta, Georgia. Tonight, as I type this from my warm house,

• 2,164 people are living unsheltered on the streets
• 2,357 people are living in emergency shelters
• 2,498 people are living in transitional shelters
• the latest estimate is that there are more than 10,000 homeless people in the greater Atlanta area.

How do we make these statistics more relevant in our everyday life? How do we make these numbers matter? At ISF, we believe that part of our calling is to make these statistics more tangible to American Christians. We want to help you to 'do something.' We are not OK with God's people sitting in their comfort zones while there are people desperate for the gospel and basic necessities of survival.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to look at 4 different ways that we can get involved. Four different ways that we can be an advocate for the needy people. My prayer is that you are moved to DO SOMETHING. Here is a preview:

• SPEAK UP Proverbs 31:8 says, "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate." First we must educate ourselves on the current situations and needs, then we can be a voice for these people who often have no voice. We can speak up for them - we can be an advocate of change in their lives.
  
• LIFT UP - We need to pray specifically for the needs of people. Perhaps God is leading you to be a more committed prayer warrior for the poor.
  
• SHOW UP - James 1:27 reminds us the pure religion is visiting orphans and widows. Yes, we often need to help financially, but God also wants us to walk beside people in their greatest time of need. Relationship is key!
  
• GIVE UP - You can take this many different ways, but usually with obedience comes surrender. I believe that God may be calling some of us to surrender something of value as a next step to getting involved with mercy ministries. Money, time, conveniences, our plans, and comfort are just a few examples of things that God often asks us to surrender. Matthew 16:25 says, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

Regardless of how involved you are now, always challenges us to grow in our relationship with him. Take a small step. Take a huge step. Just do something!

In our attempt to DO SOMETHING, the ISF staff visited a homeless shelter in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday evening. Here are some pictures from our night.