In the Beginning...

What was I thinking? In June 2004 as I sat on the airplane returning home from my first trip to Uganda, the only thing going through my head was 1 John 3:17 "If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?"

I was a 20 year old American college student from a comfortable middle class suburban community. I certainly had this world's goods. So did everyone else I know. But for the past four weeks I had seen multitudes of brothers in need. Brothers, Sisters. Mothers. Fathers. And children. What, exactly, was I supposed to do now?

I left Uganda with a firm word and a firm conviction to stand beside a young woman named Sarah Kamara as she, in her poverty, cared for the orphans of her community. I made Sarah no promises, but I told her that I would do what I could. Sarah herself expected nothing much, just a friend to encourage her and pray for her as she served. God was about to surprise us both.

How I was going to help Sarah and her small ministry called Ranch on Jesus was a less certain matter. I was timid and afraid. I didn't have any experience fundraising, and I was certainly not confident enough to ask anyone for money. Still, the words of 1 John followed me powerfully. So did Jeremiah:

"Ah, Lord, GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak for I am only a youth." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say 'I am only a youth;' for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you."

Do not be dismayed by them, or I will dismay you before them. Jeremiah 1: 6-8, 17

The NIV says "do not be terrified." Honestly...I was. But as God began to form a small idea in my mind, the fear of HIM, overpowered my fear of man. I lacked confidence in myself, but my confidence that the Lord would not send me on a futile mission was firm. As long as I was for Him, He would act.

That small idea I had was for a yard sale. Weeks after my return, I talked to my pastor about the possibility of hosting a church wide yard sale that summer with all the proceeds to benefit Ranch on Jesus Orphanage Ministries in Uganda. He told me to go for it. I don't think either of us expected the MASSIVE event this would become.

To be quite frank, the yard sale was a bit of a cop out. As I mentioned earlier, I was plain scared to just ask God's people to give toward the need of these children. (To this day I still wrestle with that fear.) But in my defense, I also had a strong desire to work for Sarah and these children. I wanted to do something tangible...to invest my time the way she had so that it became a labor of love.

I got more than I bargained for. Weeks before the sale, people began dropping of stuff...and more stuff...and MORE stuff...until we had a few rooms of the church filled to the brim. In addition to asking people to give funds, I also had fears of asking people to give their time. Therefore, I was grossly unprepared in terms of man power. I don't think anyone in the church anticipated that this sale would grow to such a magnitude.

Thankfully, as more goods were dropped off at the doors, more helping hands came along with them. Miraculously, the loving people of Carriage Lane Presbyterian Church pulled together and hosted a fantastic yard sale. The Lord blessed our labor of love with a grand total of $7000 raised for Ranch on Jesus!

He is faithful, and uses even the frailest of people and most foolish of tasks to build His Kingdom.


Looking back it is incredible to see how the Lord shielded me and carried me along. He gave me an unnatural determination despite my natural fears. He also kept me clueless. In all the activity I never had time to truly pause and think about what I was possibly getting myself into. If I had seen then the magnitude of the journey ahead I probably would have crawled under one of the donated sofas to hide. Thankfully, in His mercy, God unfolds only what pages of the story we need to read at that time. He entrusts to us only what he has equipped us to carry.

As I count the weeks down to this year's upcoming yard sale at Carriage Lane, I marvel at how far He has brought us. We have learned much, struggled, and strengthened by His grace. From a small grassroots fundraiser five years ago we have grown into a full fledged non-profit ministry partnering full time with Ranch on Jesus. The yard sale is still a massive undertaking, but it has now become a sort of tradition. It remains a powerful fundraiser that helps supply Ranch on Jesus with vital funding. I look forward to it. I look forward to watching God's people rally together to impact their neighbors across the globe. By giving up a little bit of stuff and time we've been able to contribute significantly to the well being of little ones in desperate need.

The dates of the 4th Yard Sale for Ranch on Jesus are Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1st 2009 from 7 AM to 3 PM at Carriage Lane Presbyterian Church, Peachtree City, GA. If you would like to participate by giving your stuff or time contact me at pearlministries@gmail.com. Details on donation drop off can be found at http://www.pearlministries.org/.