Last Tuesday I was following a dream, to start a coffee shop/bistro in Shoal Creek’s building that would be open to the public and become a place where great conversation would lead to a great number of conversions.
I went to see a man about coffee. Schaun Colin was his name and he came highly recommended. He owned the Country Club Cafe in Shawnee.
His slight accent intrigued me from the beginning. (Americans are suckers for accents, why is that?) Behind the accent laid a charming and passionate fellow. We talked coffee, oh yes, the nectar of the gods! He schooled me on coffee shops and the lot. He even gently persuaded me not to give up control of the environment in the coffee shop.
As he told stories of amazing connections taking place in the shop he referenced the pictures on the wall. Black presumably African children were all over the place. They led to his life story or at least the vocational part. He moved from a successful landscaping business to coffee shop ownership so that he could support a children’s village in his homeland, South Africa.
The children were AIDS orphans and they captured his heart on his first visit to an African township at the age of 30. Although he grew up in South Africa, apartheid kept him isolated from the reality of his own country.
Now his organization, Oceans of mercy has a children’s village in Port Elizabeth collecting orphans whose lives have been torn apart by the AIDS pandemic.
Remember we started with coffee and now we’re talking AIDS. Little did Schaun know that a strong current started flowing at Shoal Creek when we watched Bill Hybels interview Bono. Fast Forward to Shoal Creek Weekend of Nov. 26th where that same video was shown at both services.
Out of that came a AIDS Learning Community that began meeting at Panera in Liberty. I made 10 copies of materials, boy did I miss it. 28 people showed up. Boy was Panera happy!
For the next 3 weeks we met and discussed the AIDS crisis and our response. It is Tuesday before the last meeting of the AIDS Learning Group and I am sitting talking with a man about coffee who has the same passion for AIDS victims.
Schaun asked me to go to his office. Strange request since we were comfortably ensconced at the coffee shop. But remember he has the accent so I submissively followed him up the stairs.
On his desk was a piece of paper that was clearly an email. He picked it up and began to read. But first he qualified the email. It was from Mama Gladys (presumably not related to the Pips!) and in Schaun’s words, “She has only emailed me twice in the ten years I’ve known her and I am holding one of them.”
Mama Gladys grew up in the Transkei region of South Africa. It is a large area on the east coast of South Africa and is the homeland of Nelson Mandella. She just return from a trip to the Transkei where a local chief after hearing of Oceans of Mercy’s work donated land for them to do similar work in his area.
The email was telling Schaun that we (Schaun and Mama Gladys) needed a partner and imploring him to pray that God would lead someone across their paths.
I went to see a man about coffee! At this point Schaun’s eyes are filled with tears, I am overrun by goosebumps and both of us are convinced that God had shown up.
Since we were in a dimension that neither of us understood, I decided to ask Schaun if there was any way he could attend our AIDS Learning Group (ALG) the next morning at 6:30 am in Pleasant Valley. I shouldn’t have been surprised when he said that his 6 am appointment the next morning had cancelled and he was available.
Schaun came and shared with our ALG. They were as impressed as I was.
So I decided to travel to South Africa. Leaving Jan. 12 returning 22. Mama Gladys and I will visit the Chief near Umtata and discuss how we might proceed on this project. Sitting over breakfast Monday morning with eyes glazed over recovering from our son’s wedding, my wife says, “You should take the boys (Trevor 22, newly married and Colin 18). God would have it that they both have the means to make this happen, so now I am holding 3 tickets to South Africa. It will be a trip of a lifetime for us and most importantly this trip will start the process to save lives and change the eternal direction of many in South Africa.
Who would have thought that 12 years ago in my living room 6 people would reach around the world and touch lives of children in South Africa. Only God!
Roy
PS Trevor and Chanda get off the plane at 11:15 tonight (Wednesday) and have no idea this is going on. How does a newly wed tell his bride that he is leaving less that a month after their wedding and trapsing off to Africa. It is in Trevor’s nature to do such a thing, I am not sure about Chanda. I wouldn’t blame her for saying, “NO!, you aren’t.” But is not in her nature to say that either. Pray for them!
67 responses so far ↓
1 control de flotas // Nov 10, 2011 at 4:19 am
As stated above, a credit check could also be run…
To get huge reductions on native attractions, the perfect place to start out is the Web, specifically the web page of no matter attraction you need to visit….
2 Wprobot review // Nov 11, 2011 at 1:20 pm
Be consistent with your style…
People like to know what to expect, once you have settled on a style for your audience stick to it….
3 car stereo san diego // Nov 11, 2011 at 3:15 pm
car stereo san diego…
Whilst you don’t need to specially ignore lots of elements unspoken there’s an fine art to creating open-ended posts that makes place for your readership becoming experts also….
4 how to make hair grow faster // Nov 14, 2011 at 8:47 am
We met with the man who :…
Susan and crew, We have enjoyed your posts and wish you Godspeed! Maybe you get to feel what Jesus felt when the whole town rushed out to see Him! We will be in Bogota Thursday night….
5 Free Government Money // Nov 15, 2011 at 7:50 am
Cleaning up online reputation…
A lot of companies won’t commit to internet website marketing together with advertisement to become able to cleaning open controversy and even fabrications by particular individuals….
6 Acnezine // Nov 15, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Online reputation management…
Way too many corporations do not ever invest in online promotion as well as advertisement so they can correct public disputes not to mention fabrications due to various folks….
7 acnezine cream // Nov 16, 2011 at 3:00 am
Acne is a skin condition…
that occurs due to the overproduction of oil by the oil glands of the skin….
8 gestion de vehiculos // Nov 16, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Small, but not insignificant,…
this gesture of active empathy tells much about the man who extended it. He’s a nice guy in a season of nastiness, a trait that may also be his greatest political failing….
9 sistema de gestion de vehiculos // Nov 17, 2011 at 5:17 am
Beneath are tips that may help get you started…
Decide the approximate prices and prioritize the totally different portions of your journey, equivalent to hotel, airfare, automotive rental, visiting points of interest and sights, food, and gasoline….
10 stock promotion // Nov 17, 2011 at 6:48 am
We provide custom fitted…
stock promotion for individual investors, third party owners, or small-cap and micro-cap public companies on any of the North American exchanges….
11 Car Stereo San Diego // Nov 18, 2011 at 4:43 am
car stereo san diego…
If you articulate the whole lot there’s to share on the issue you’re less likely to induce others supplying their particular opinions on the grounds that you’ll have mentioned what they could possibly have put in….
12 gestion de flotas por gps // Nov 18, 2011 at 9:39 am
This applies to both renting a car and renting an automotive service…
When it comes time for you to formulate a budget for travel, it’s best to first prioritize by deciding what is most vital to you and what you possibly can reduce back on….
13 gestion de vehiculos // Nov 18, 2011 at 12:37 pm
The first thing you have to to know is…
After getting a good idea of what you want to spend on each part of your journey, then it is advisable start buying round for the perfect deals….
14 How to get rid of blackheads // Nov 21, 2011 at 2:55 pm
This is where cosmetic companies…
like Simco, Revlon, and Pfeilring come in. These companies make a number of different blackhead removers, and for a reasonable price too—sometimes less than $3.00….
15 Gary Moore Sarasota FL // Nov 23, 2011 at 8:23 am
Remove all the clutter…
and arrange the lists properly. Making your post free of any typographical and grammatical errors makes it good reading experience for your readers….
16 olive garden printable coupons // Nov 23, 2011 at 8:51 pm
You can now enjoy these special dishes…
at a discount with our featured Olive Garden coupons & deals. A Little History About The Olive Garden Restaurant…
17 amor en linea // Nov 25, 2011 at 2:12 pm
I will share an exceptional story :…
Hey sis! I see your having a great time. Miss your lots. Come home fast!…
18 http://mbaonline.thunderbird.edu/ // Nov 26, 2011 at 8:17 am
their latest publications, Growing by Degrees: Online…
Education in the United States 2005: “Overall online enrollment increased from 1.98 million in 2003 to 2.35 million in 2004. The online enrollment growth rate is over ten times that projected by the National Center for Education Statistics for the gen…
19 ophthalmology // Nov 26, 2011 at 9:53 am
reviews it is helpful to know some…
of the possible after effects that you may experience. Some people find that they have sore eyes for a couple of days after the treatment. In this situation you will be able to make use of the aftercare which is included…
20 Victoria secret promo codes // Dec 1, 2011 at 8:37 am
to take with you from you semi-casual…
to the not-so-formal engagements looking truly sophisticated. A pair of a wedge gladiators or strappy heels, and you’re set to go – - – looking fabulous, Victoria’s style. The real secret of Victoria’s Secret is that being a model is a…
21 Baby Bedding // Dec 1, 2011 at 9:00 am
available for you to decorate your newborn’s…
room. It’s strictly a matter of personal taste as the bedding is available in many colors, fabrics, textures and styles. You might like to consider your existing home decor and palette of color when choosing the bedding for your nursery. Select…
22 Adira Asuransi Terbaik di Indonesia // Dec 5, 2011 at 10:07 am
developed nations, they can provide the basic…
requirements. Expatriate companies whose head quarters are in the nation can also do the same and more, but probably at a higher price. The one and the best car insurance if you live in indonesia is adira asuransi, just see at…
23 billig ipad // Dec 5, 2011 at 1:23 pm
was pushed back indefinitely following the earthquake…
and tsunami disaster. The iPad 2 will also be available in Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and additional countries in April, and in many more countries around the world in the coming months. Further international availability and pricing will be announced…
24 burlington coat factory coupon // Dec 6, 2011 at 9:44 am
is white and furry with a charcoal,…
velvet tie. It will add a touch of vintage elegance to any outfit. This shrug comes in sizes 3M to size 6. It goes perfectly with the La Petite Couture Fur & Velour Hat. Don’t let your little fashionista wear just…
25 best dui attorney Fort Myers // Dec 7, 2011 at 1:25 pm
lawyer ratings…
Nearly all states now have tight deadlines in dwi circumstances. Skipping the deadline will cause the losing of your license, seizure of the car or truck, and also arrest. Deadlines vary between 5 – 1 month then all of legal rights can be forfeited. No…
26 West Palm Beach attorneys criminal // Dec 7, 2011 at 1:49 pm
ask a lawyer…
A lot of states currently have strict deadlines on drunk driving cases. Missing the deadline could cause loosing your license, seizure of your vehicle, and also arrest. Deadlines span between five – thirty days after which all of legal rights could be …
27 Swiss T Gallery // Dec 9, 2011 at 12:50 am
cozier place. The wine produced here is…
served across the globe and brewed from the fine orchards. Switzerland is an amazing country with a very rich heritage and picturesque beauty which serves as the honeymooner’s destination too. Visit the Swiss land and see it yourself. What if you Swis…
28 dr oz african mango plus // Dec 9, 2011 at 12:44 pm
to death with my food choices until…
I came across African mango Plus pills and it wasn’t until then that I realized that my diets didn’t have to be as boring as they were in order for me to lose the weight that I needed to. By the…
29 dr oz african mango plus // Dec 9, 2011 at 1:33 pm
reduced. Are you thinking about giving African…
Mango Plus a try? Are you tired of being bored because most of the diets that you have tried in the past don’t offer you the variety of foods that would keep you interested in your diet long enough for you…
30 african mango weight loss pills // Dec 9, 2011 at 3:29 pm
good sign of health problems like heart…
attacks and high blood pressure. Being obese or overweight might also lead to diabetes, which is a life long illness that is costly and expensive with insulin shots needed at regular interval. Lifestyle Change However, a solution would and could help…
31 african mango dr oz show // Dec 10, 2011 at 1:57 am
loss supplements work to effectively eliminate all…
the unwanted fats that are found in the belly, thighs and waist. Start Your Best Weight Loss Regimen Now. Working your way towards a sexier body will lead you into using a highly effective weight loss pill in African Mango Plus….
32 facebook brasil // Dec 11, 2011 at 1:32 pm
The group is also preparing for our weekend trip :…
It’s vital, for this reason, to ensure all untrusted subject material that will methods a part of a site possibly be visible about the different decent when compared to just about any susceptible subject matter regarding in which web site. Untrusted su…
33 snowmobile for sale // Dec 13, 2011 at 3:05 pm
activities, such as snowmobiling. There are also…
more gadgets than ever to help keep us comfortable, safe and add to the fun of a day out on the trails. Clothing Your clothing should be layered in cold weather. Layers keep warmth in and cold out. Many of the…
34 project imagination // Dec 14, 2011 at 8:14 am
were younger. as adults most of us…
are aware of the impact of soundtracks which are written to enhance the effect of a movie. the music that is played to accompany a horror movie is an apt example here.auditory input definitely has the power to trigger and enhance…
35 Diaxoristika mpanieras // Dec 14, 2011 at 1:17 pm
europe to construct baths at aix and…
vichy in france, bath and buxton in england, aachen and wiesbaden in germany, baden, austria, and aquincum, hungary, among other locations. these baths became centers for recreational and social activities in roman communities. libraries, lecture halls…
36 keratin hair treatment // Dec 16, 2011 at 11:03 am
method that really helps cure the causes…
of cystic acne check out this product review. the causes of cystic acne are similar to common acne, but cystic acne appears as swollen red pustules that are much more tender than regular acne. cystic acne usually occurs on the face,…
37 black wedges for sale // Dec 16, 2011 at 12:39 pm
the use of separately employed plastic mold…
sectional dies.there has existed a need by which in a simple manner a first plastic mold die may be quickly located and mounted upon the platens of a molding machine and secured thereon for a particular molding operation. means are needed…
38 local marketing // Dec 18, 2011 at 3:23 am
advertising professionals). your vendor really should be…
on the cuttingedge of what is happening in the market. o attend andor present at nationallyrecognized search marketing and advertising conferences (i. ec , search advertising and marketing expo, search engine methods). o provide references and examples…
39 motorhome service orlando // Dec 21, 2011 at 6:36 am
road. nothing beats it on the highway….
in a class a motorhome, the living and driving compartments are connected, hence, you don’t have to stop the rv and get out to access your living area.driving experience is also good in the class a motorhome, it has an elevated…
40 Rolling Platform Buyer Guide // Dec 21, 2011 at 8:04 am
rolling. this needs to be removed before…
despatch to the customer or further processing. pickling acid tanks remove the mill scale from the surface of the strip. the most commonly used pickling acid is hci, at around 15% concentration and at a temperature of approximately 80°c. rinse tanks…
41 Slidell DUI Attorney // Dec 26, 2011 at 2:24 pm
inconsistent.hiring an experienced dui attorney is indeed…
the best way to do if a person wants to fight his or her dui case. simply and surely, there will be no hassle. being charged of dui or driving under the influence of intoxicating substance is a serious matter. in…
42 LCD versus LED // Dec 31, 2011 at 10:38 am
effects whilst watching a family film or…
maybe you would use it to enjoy a family game on your console and still get the amazing high definition quality. it doesn’t meant you have to purchase a new television set you could thing about a change to maybe a…
43 kitchen remodeling Virginia // Jan 5, 2012 at 2:22 pm
not be exactly what you had hoped…
for, it is an alterative that may just give you what you need. “kitchen remodeling tips” it has kitchen remodeling Virginia been said that kitchen is the heart of a house which is continuously occupied by the family members most of the time. it…
44 OLED vs LCD // Jan 5, 2012 at 2:55 pm
have their fans who proclaim each one…
to have benefits over the other but since the early days of flat panel tvs there have been major steps towards correcting each technology’s foibles. one of the biggest changes that have helped to improve modern televisions has been the introduction…
45 fixed caged ladder // Jan 6, 2012 at 1:10 am
on a walking ladder also, then why…
not try some club passing!360 degree turn: just lifting up o ne leg of the ladder, do lots of tiny little steps round in a circle, until you return to your starting position! you could also do a 180 degree turn…
46 intuition // Jan 6, 2012 at 11:29 am
no effort. this is in essence, strategic…
intuition. in our contemplation, we find resolution. some of history’s greatest inventors and philosophers didn’t randomly come across information without serious contemplation and meditation. however, their “viola!” moment came at the precise mome…
47 online dating // Jan 8, 2012 at 3:55 pm
won’t want to stop!with so many men…
wanting to increase their penis size it is no surprise this is a common question ‘what can i do to make my penis bigger?’ some men turn to miracle pills or hi-tech gadgets for the answer meanwhile other men turn to…
48 best buy facebook fans // Jan 9, 2012 at 2:32 am
Check This Out…
[...]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[...]…
49 cheesecake factory // Jan 11, 2012 at 3:27 pm
you may even pay online. the availability…
of specific dominos pizza coupons may perhaps vary by region, some of the pizza shops will launch national specials. dominos pizza coupons are free, overpaying for pizza is not!we all know pizza ranks quantity a single as the favourite food of…
50 pizza hut coupon codes // Jan 12, 2012 at 2:51 am
print-free. more and a lot more pages…
of excellent offers on online shopping are getting given away so you have to take benefit. you do not have to invest major time on every occasion you buy your favorite products. finding great deals on express on line coupons can…
51 gps para camiones // Jan 12, 2012 at 9:38 am
and are in balance. this is the…
ideal location to place a stationary satellite. the earth rotates at about 1,000 miles an hour, and because of their high earth orbit the geo-synchronous satellites need to travel at about 7,000 mph to sustain position. this is approximately the same…
52 best criminal attorney tampa fl // Jan 12, 2012 at 3:37 pm
offenses, and felony dwi. the punishment for…
crimes also differs from imposition of fines to short-term simple imprisonment to extended rigorous imprisonment – and in some countries such as the u.s. even capital punishment.in criminal law, the situation is initiated from the federal or state gove…
53 female hair loss regrowth // Jan 12, 2012 at 6:07 pm
something about their thinning hair. scientifically proven…
and affordable supplements are available at http://www.livelylocks.com isolate the cause and develop a plan of action. good luck the most common cause of hair loss however is androgenetic alopecia (aga) which causes hair loss due to the influence of ma…
54 coq10 60 mg // Jan 12, 2012 at 10:28 pm
at a pharmacologic dose commonly employed for…
a wide variety of disorders.” (john t.a. ely, ph.d.; h.hugh fudenberg, m.d.; emile g. bliznakov, m.d.; john d.branch, d.o.). cells don’t immediately die from a stroke, as was once thought, rather they are heavily compromised due to lack of oxygen. “…
55 all season tires // Jan 13, 2012 at 12:23 pm
time to replace your tires.after knowing if…
it is time to replace your tire, the next question is how do you change it? the easiest way, of course, is to buy new tires and have the tire shop install these new tires by themselves. however, if you bought…
56 PPI Claims Scotland // Jan 14, 2012 at 4:57 am
is no collateral.the ppi mainly helps when…
some unpredictable accident, unemployment, or critical illness occurs that makes it impossible for the borrower to make monthly payment. a payment protection insurance policy takes care of this inability to make monthly payments of the loan. but how ca…
57 hardwood flooring // Jan 17, 2012 at 9:07 am
a wide array of different finishes. if…
you decide to install laminated flooring in your home, you can rest assured that you won’t spend any more time trying to protect your floors from damage, especially if you have children.although laminated flooring is already relatively inexpensive, di…
58 Deals on LCD TVs // Jan 17, 2012 at 9:17 am
and vision stores. visit the winter savings…
for yourself in one of the sound and vision shops in a choice of bolton or leeds. located in farnworth which is one the edge of bolton is the original sound and vision av shop. the best way to reach the…
59 Card Processing UK // Jan 18, 2012 at 9:49 am
cash circulation. also, numerous customers challenge items…
prepared through third parties they do not recognize the business name on the credit card declaration when the expenses arrives thirty days later. this may end up priced at you a considerable portion of your own revenue. if you achieve your…
60 extended stay hotel // Jan 19, 2012 at 5:14 am
urban-inspired, modern hotel rooms, enhanced technology services…
and an energetic lounge scene. at aloft, guests choose their rooms upon arrival using electronic kiosks. aloft hotels offers a fresh alternative to conventional hotels. for the traveler open to possibilities, aloft hotels are a modern, fresh and fun de…
61 Cameras // Jan 23, 2012 at 12:27 pm
are apt to vie for a much…
more affordable total-sized camera, but as these functions are getting applied and as they continue to come down in price, it is anticipated that much more and far more potential customers will contemplate the benefits that come with the smaller sized,…
62 special valentines day gift ideas // Jan 25, 2012 at 3:25 pm
notes in the form of “valentines”. popular…
valentine symbols of modern times include the heart-shaped outline and the figure of the winged cupid. since the 19th century, mass produced greeting cards have largely replaced handwritten notes. it is believed that nearly one billion valentines day c…
63 Best Tim Tebow Song // Jan 27, 2012 at 11:06 am
your stamina levels, and you would notice…
that you end up getting tired way more quickly.the dangers associated with smoking include heart problems, various forms of cancer, breathing related complications, as well as a range of other ailments. the effects of smoking in pregnant women have bee…
64 kindle fire review // Jan 27, 2012 at 11:22 am
nearly the same thing, only in a…
smaller package. if you are considering spending your hard-earned money on an ipad to improve your productivity you may be interested in knowing that there is yet another option now available. the kindle fire has many of the same features as…
65 performance of isuzu amigo // Jan 29, 2012 at 3:29 am
market for a vehicle that’s going to…
save you lots of money and distinguish you above others on the road then investing in a japanese car would be your best option. there’s no reason to compromise quality, durability and reliability for a vehicle that won’t deliver in terms…
66 electronic cigarette review // Jan 29, 2012 at 10:50 am
and thirty-eight people from 40 to 69…
years of age were included in the study. among four thousand four hundred and forty-two volunteers who had never smoked and had not been diagnosed with diabetes at the beginning of the study: 485 acquired type 2 diabetes within the next…
67 street soccer // Jan 31, 2012 at 12:18 am
quarters to try and keep the score…
down and the morale up. we were playing the number one team and we started off playing them fairly evenly, but we couldn’t convert on anything in front of the soccer goal, because our offensive players weren’t in position and we…
Leave a Comment