Bransfordia Chronicles Vol. 6 - 29 July 2011 - When the dust settles....
Dear Kids and All,
“When the dust settles….” was a familiar expression in my youth. When we arrived at our home in Boone, I procrastinated a bit with the expression, “when the dust settles”. The dust? We feel it is very important that we develop a “user friendly” home for Philip. That means a whole variety of things. It means that though we are significantly older, really significantly, than the parents of most of the kids Philip’s age, we must identify with younger parents seeking to help Philip establish new friendships. It means that we need a “user friendly” place where Philip can invite his friends. What “might” this mean? While, just for normal maintenance, etc, we need to paint our house inside, we also need outside paint and/or siding. Our yard, neglected for some years, needs to be made mower friendly and will need a mass evacuation of weeds. We would like to create a place for “shooting baskets”, playing ping pong, and, if there is enough yard that could be converted to a flat area, put in a volleyball court. We would like to make our home friendly to the young, and the older. The dust? Beyond the above, we need to organize years of memories which currently are in letters, pictures, and thoughts. Add to this locating and buying a pellet burning stove, trying to determine the best phone and internet services for a couple who are technically compromised, knowing what to do about medical insurance when Milie and I have Medicare while having 19 and 15 year old sons at home, and many other things. Also important, we want our friends, young and old, to feel welcome in our home for however long the Lord brings them to us. And, add to this my desire to write down some of our past while Millie finds her niche in Bible studies and establishing new friendships.
The “dust” seems a little overwhelming, and we are trying to prioritize. Chris, Jon, Bethany, and Kat (aka Susie) arrive with their families in the next couple of days. Guess who’s coming to dinner? Next week we will have 24 regularly. Oh happy day… We must squeeze in as much as we can during that week! Who knows when we will have this many together again? Yes, we will search and scrounge for times together, but it is harder especially when the number of grandkids is growing. Rick cannot come with his family, and we are very sorry about that.
“When the dust settles…” On September 7th I return to Africa and the Horn. I look at the trip as a privilege and a burden. It is a privilege in that we will be able to help those who do not have another avenue for help. It is a burden in that we share with the Lord some of His burden for the “lost”. I MUST return to those verses in Scripture that comment “In the fullness of time God sent forth his Son…” I cling to those words wondering if this could be “the fullness of time” for the people we seek to serve.
In the last couple of weeks some have written to me asking about Dadaab Refugee Camp, the largest refugee camp in the world. It is said to have over 400,000 refugees now with 900-1200 arriving daily. The drought has added its insult to the recurrent fighting not far from the camp. This has created devastating starvation especially effecting the children. Relief is not considered the mission of BethanyKids, and those writing to me seeking an organization where donations could be sent have been told that I work in Africa and make visits regularly to Dadaab Refugee Camp, and I work with children. Maybe I am an information filter in some ways. Anyhow I wrote to various people who might see themselves, or their organization, as an avenue of care. Please pray that a godly organization will be found who considers this work their burden and sees it as a privilege to serve Him in this capacity.
Retired or reassigned? If Millie and I recognized this period of our lives as that in which we would “vegetate”, I think that we would despair. I believe that we recognize that there are big changes, immense changes. In the midst of these changes we are seeing a new awareness of how we can be used of Him. A call came from South Africa today from one of our “sons”. We have no known blood relationship, but he is a son by having lived in our home and captured our hearts. We needed to “talk”, and we did. Calls have come from some of those who want to participate in saving the lives especially of children who are severely malnourished. Another “son” wrote of a failure that he and the Lord are working through. We talk to our children by phone more often than we have in years. Philip and Josh need us in different ways. And, Millie and I need each other in new ways.
Please come and visit. God bless you. Please pray for us.
Dick, for the “reassigned” Bransfords
PS If any of you have the prayer letters we sent in late 1992, one can see that the disaster in NE Kenya and the surrounding area is repeating itself. I hope that Christians do not repeat their lack of response.
When we lived in the Comoro Islands we lived in a very different setting. For most of 1976 I was the only doctor in the main hospital in the capital city. I was the only surgeon on an island of about 200,000 to 250,000 people. I often tell people, tongue in cheek, that I was the chief of surgery and the chief of obstetrics and gynecology. Then I tell them that I was the only surgeon, and my distinction as “chief” lost its aura. At that time I had to be available every moment of every day. Sometimes on a Sunday we would inform the hospital staff that our family was going the beach on the other end of the island, about 25-30 miles away. If they were to need me, and this was in the days before cell phones, they were to call someone in that town who would come to the beach to fetch me. And, that was anticipated on occasions; our staff did not call me unless I was really needed. But, honestly, that schedule became very, very tiring.
Availability? Servanthood, at least in the Christian sense, will most likely necessitate a willing heart that is available all of the time and prepared to accept even the most difficult circumstances. The concept of a “qualified” servant is probably not the type of mixture that the Lord would choose. His intimate knowledge of our inner being makes Him trustworthy to choose what He knows we can, or ought, to do. It is a process, and the “conditioning” often prepares us for tasks that we were not initially capable of performing. Paul oftentimes refers to a runner in a race, and it is likely that we, if our heart is willing, are being conditioned for a spiritual marathon during which we may “hit the wall”. Few really run marathons, and in reality few are conditioned to run marathons. This can be out of choice. The spiritual marathon is more than likely what He has for those who are willing.
Kids, don’t take the call to be His servant lightly. But, even more importantly, make yourself vulnerable to Him, thus allowing Him to take you beyond your personal abilities. Not long ago I wrote to you about leadership. Many more of us want to be leaders than servants. Yet, the pathway to godly leadership will most likely lead you through the valley of servanthood. Pride will try to sway you from the narrow path as will awards, fame, material prosperity and degrees. If you are a doctor, a preacher, a teacher, or other, you will likely receive lots of praise. Humility, servanthood, and a willing heart can lead you into the path that He calls “right”. It will not necessary be an easy path. It may mean some sleepless nights. You may need to learn how to sing, “Make Me a Servant”.
I began kindergarten when I was 5. I was so very excited. I was not a very good student academically. I had to work hard. When I was 13 I committed my life to Jesus Christ. I felt that He wanted me to be a doctor, someone to work among the poor, and an effective Christian. I worked very hard through high school and college and then medical school. And He worked hard in molding this rather odd piece of clay into someone He could better use. He opened a lot of doors, and He also closed a number of doors that, if I had had my own way, I would have chosen to be open. I am 70 now. He is still working hard to make me a more effective and godly servant.
God bless you.
Dick
PS This past week has been very stressful to me. One of our long term workers, and a friend, left his work with BethanyKids under less than ideal circumstances. Another situation really hurt, and that was the background to this letter. Maybe part of the valley of servanthood for me has been learning from these tough circumstances.
PSS You may want to visit our website sometime. It is at www.brringthekids.com . Much of what you read in the chronicles is repeated there with other “historical” items.
PSSS If all goes as expected now, we will migrate to the US in July to make our home in Boone. I hope to return to the Horn 4-5 times a year primarily to help with the reconstruction of burn contractures and shunts for children with hydrocephalus. We will also hope to be teaching these skills to local doctors.
VBS IS COMING!!!
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