Jokes Are Stupid (WR)

Here I sit, done with Mozambique, or “Mozie” if your ke­­­­­­­­­­en for shortening wor.  So I should reflect right?  (The previous inquiry was redundant).  I also like using words most people, myself included, typically wouldn’t, anyway… I’ll matriculate onward with this blog.

Unveiled Pursuit (that’s my team, for those of­­­­­­ you who don’t follow with regularity) and Team Genuine bunked down with Angie Wheeler last month in Machava, in the Maputo district of Mozie, at her ministry, “Beacon of Hope” (BOH).  Angie has been in Mozambique nearly 11 years and has a God-given vision that’s awfully encouraging.

Originally, as a part of Iris ministries, Angie developed a deeper heart for the young people, and today it shows more than ever.  Aside from the children she’s adopted, every year she starts with 10 young men, enrolling them in the 3 year program.  Not everyone stays.  But that’s their choice.  You can’t “make” people succeed.  You can only offer them the opportunity, which includes learning responsibility and honoring authority and that’s what Angie does.



Angie accepts participants from various communities.  Her first priority is orphans, then those with single parents, and on to children from poorer families with both parents.  They are provided with valuable education, training in various professions of interest, and other useful talents.  She also has a tremendous staff, led by her son Popo, that disciples these men into a realization of being sons of God and leaders in their families, districts, nation, and potentially beyond.  If ya wanna know more about Beacon of Hope be sure to check out http://www.beaconofhope-africa.org/.



Ok cool, but what did I do there?  Well, I’m glad I asked myself on your behalf.  I did “Insanity” in themorning with the men of BOH.  So I’m pretty “ripped” now.  We also taught English and other subjects, but mainly I tiled.  I did a little tile work.  Oh yeah, and I tiled some.  I basically lived in the kitchen at the ministry, which isn’t entirely new, but just in a different way than normal.  I was tiling in there.  I’m don’t know if I mentioned that.

“Matt, why did you tile?”  Those words from a hypothetically interested person ring in my ears even now.  Well… ya see… sometimes… I joke.  We’d just arrived and Angie mentions she needs tile work, several girls jump to mention, “Oh Ben tiles,” but not in a casual sort of way.  Then Brett says, “Yeah, I’ve done tile work too.”  Then, “contrary to form,” I look at Brett and somewhat mockingly, and unbeknownst to the rest of the room, mouth the words, “I’ve done tile work too.”  Well, ya see Brett didn’t know I was joking… He mentions it to Angie as he’s leaving and a month is formed.

But, despite being trapped by the perfectionistic tile work ethic that I stole from my dad for the month, I did get to enjoy the pleasure of meeting such wonderful young men, that I expect to be the next leaders of Mozambique.  These guys are so respectful and so honoring, oh and they are very talented.  I’m honestly not sure if I’ve met boys their age that are so respectful, nor am I sure that I’ve met such a respectful staff.  Especially given the way Africa normally runs, and that Angie is a woman, to see them esteem her so much speaks highly of them and of her.

Honestly, I don’t feel like this blog even remotely does the guys or Angie service, and I don’t normally like just “telling” things without much of a twist or deeper tie in, but sometimes things just need to be told so the word can get out.  So… there it is.

It's Not Father's Day Anymore (WR)

About a month ago, I wrote a Mother’s Day Blog, at the time I didn’t plan on writing this one, but I think the occasion deserves it.  Yeah… it’s after Father’s Day, but the internet went out and I wasn’t able to talk to pops.  But here it is… a blog for dad, written from a mountain top, by a fire, under an open sky, on the other side of the world.

Yeah…  I travel a bit, it’s something he instilled in me.

He’s done a lot that goes unmentioned and unnoticed.  Most people don’t know the hard work he’s put into our family.  Many people remember him more for the man he USED to be, not the man he’s become and becoming.


He doesn’t seek the praise, but a little appreciation and thanks go a long way.

He’s had a rough go of it the last year or so, caught some tough breaks, and I know he’s wondering what’s next, but he’s holding strong.

I’m writing this blog to let you all know, because I know he does, that I’m proud that he’s my dad.   And I’m proud that he’s my mom’s husband.  And, though he may not often receive the affirmation of it, he’s a great son.

He’ll be the first to admit that the man he was wasn’t the man he should have been, but he didn’t settle for a verbal admission.  He did something much more valuable.

He changed… and he’s still growing.


 Potentially, the most important thing he’s ever given to me, other than his love, is vision.  And I see him taking the effort to do that for my little cousins Curtis and Brittany, who haven’t really been shown that as much in their lives.

His example taught me to have a vision bigger than my circumstances.  He taught me by example to look beyond the situation I’m in, and that there’s something more out there.  He’s always searching, always seeking a better way to provide for our family the best he knows how.

Even though, I know, he’s got nothing more to prove.

He, and my mom, have sacrificed and changed so much about their lives for me.  We never had much, but I never even remotely lacked.

He taught me the value of an attitude that says, “If you’re gonna bother doing it, take the time to do it well.”

As men sometimes there’s this hang up with being emotional with each other.  It’s a lie fed into by our society that has led many to lose the definition of what a man is.  But I’ve always known he loved me. It’s never been in question.  And one of the great joys of my life is that, as I’ve grown into manhood, our relationship has had that open door for him to tell me he loves me and vice versa.

He, along with mom, have always had a more “detailed” view of my wellbeing than I have.  “CHEW YOUR FOOD, DON’T SWALLOW IT WHOLE.”  “Sit up straight man, I’m telling you, you’ll notice it when you’re my age.”  “I’m tellin ya… Take care of your back/knees/feet /____ man.”  But that’s what good parents do.  They look beyond the box their children see in, and drop “pearls” of wisdom and life experience in.

But of all the things I’m proud of my dad for, and of all the reasons I’m proud to have him as a father, what I’m most proud of is the man that I know he is and can become.  He’s never settled for the lie that you cannot grow or improve your situation.  But his growth in God is what I desire the most for him.  His, though often private, seeking of God is the most encouraging thing for me, and because I know our Father in heaven has told us “Seek and you shall find,” I have great confidence that the more He is sought the more He will be found.  And, as great of a father and husband has he has been and become, there’s no limit to the father and husband and grandfather (“Lord Willin’”) he’ll become as he grows deeper with Jesus and what being a son of God means.

And THAT is beyond exciting.