Iyla, I can understand what you are saying but with our current media numbed generation, it is near impossible to get a bunch of young people (or anyone at all) to fundraise to give funds to local people in a 3rd world country. There is a saying that people will give when their heart is touched, so possibly in the longer term it would be a better investment to send people to these areas, have people partner with ministries there, see what is happening and then be a part of the solution. That doesn’t always work but I have seen this happen numerous times… I suppose there is a responsibility to the people organising these trips to make sure people are blessed and not taken advantage of

Dave’s brother and my stepdad both died of cancer right before Christmas. In my brother in law’s situation I felt called to pray for his healing and… he died. But he met Jesus right before he died, so he was indeed healed in the best possible way. I used to be cynical about bedside conversions, and about Christians who appeared to give excuses for God’s seeming inaction in cases like this. I know someone could see this in what I’ve said above, and yet I have never felt so certain of God’s care for Robb and for us. Robb is alive, heaven is real. And Jesus heals cancer in heaven and on earth.

(okay, awkward segue while I find my way down from my pulpit…)

We enjoyed meeting you and Amy and your girls so much. I hope your travels have been boring in all the right ways and interesting in all the right ways.