We often forget the true definition of "reality" cannot be defined by our own.

I have been burdened to share a bit about Helping Hands, a ministry serving those children orphaned to AIDS.  I was so blessed to go to Mafikeng, South Africa the summer of 2004.  The transpiring of this arrival, in and of itself, is a gift from God that I will never forget and one that I could never do justice through mere words.  I have had a heart for the people of Africa as far back as I can remember.  It was an intrigue that kept me intent in the eyes of National Geographic photos for hours on end.  I could see a story in the eyes of its people that was far beyond the words on the page.  It struck my soul and gave me a fire that would be ignited, physically and undeniably as an adult. 

The child you see above is standing in a line to receive her one meal for the day.  She clings tightly to her bowl, for it is the prized possession that guarantees her meal.  But even guarantee is a false hope if you are one of the children that remains when the last has been scraped from the bottom of the pot.  The need is overwhelming, hope a neccessity, and the smiles are those of children who find peace in the embrace of a stranger.  The arms of a stranger who give hugs that feel so much like those they received from their own parents once upon a time. "Once upon a time" has always seemed to convey the beginning of a story of  hope...one that happened long ago and has since faded from the memory but was reawakened by the mere utterance of four magical words.  But the embrace of a mother or father that happened "once upon a time" brings tears to the eyes of the one who realizes that those words hold no magic to bring them back.
 
Helping Hands strives to write a new story for the lives of these children.  They long to breath hope back into the words "once upon a time".  They long to share the most powerful, life-changing, and magical "once upon a time" life of Jesus Christ, the author of our hope.  Helping Hands feeds well over one thousand orphans and they aspire to be blessed with the ability to feed many more.  I am sure there are a number of people who wonder why we went and I do have so much to say about this topic, but I can sum it up by simply saying this:  there are more orphans than there are arms to hold them and this is a hunger even deeper than the one that pains their bellies at night.  If you would like to learn more about Helping Hands and the opportunities available to you to minister to the children of South Africa, you can check out their website by clicking here...

"I asked, 'Why doesn't somebody do something?' and then I realized I was somebody." - unknown

© Victoria Sheahan, 2005

So, we were driving down the road today and my husband says, "See, there's the couple I have told you about."  There on the side of the road was the couple you see here with neon orange signs that say, "FREE PRAYER" plastered to their motorcycle.  I thought that it was such a great idea to minster to people right where their at (literally on the road in their car contemplating life) that we had to go back to encourage them and chat with them a bit about their ministry. 

The name of their ministry is "Bikers with Boundaries" and Emil and Karen are the couple you see here.  They started this ministry a few years ago and in that time have seen as many as seven cars stop for prayer in a day.  They pray about the locations they are to set up and the days God ordains.  They truly believe that God makes the appointments and they simply have to be where He leads to be God's hands and feet.  What an awesome testimony! 

Bikers with Boundaries is a self-supporting, non-profit organization affiliated with City in the Desert Metro Church.  You can reach them by emailing liko@cableaz.com or calling 480.987.0344 or 480.205.6150.  If you would like to donate to their ministry of reaching people with Divine appointments or simply sending a word of encouragement, please send to:

City in the Desert Metro Church "Bikers with Boundaries"
PO Box 50268
Phoenix, AZ 85076

On a side note...we chatted a bit about a strange phenomenon that happens in the fields behind them as well.  I have yet to get a picture of this but there are tons of caterpillars that live in the cotton fields and cross the road in the morning..."Why did the caterpillar cross the road??"  We are still baffled.  Perhaps it is one of life's mysteries...or perhaps the caterpillars are simply not all that bright...