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What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
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And we're off!


Photo of me preaching  - I'm on the right, my interpreter Pastor Jane Nuthu is on the left...this was the second convention I preached there in Nairobi...on my way today to preach the third...glory to God!

Today's the big day!!!  Becca and I are leaving on a big ol' jet plane (actually three of them...two of them humongous air buses)  to Africa.   We leave this morning and arrive in Africa tomorrow night.  Yes, it's a LONG journey, of almost 30 hours, but I even enjoy the travel part.  And...I don't like flying!  Seriously.  I only fly because it's a necessity, for missions or vacation with my family.  I take my Bible and read it often whenever there's the least bit of turbulence!  I also listen to worship a lot and just get in the presence of God and that helps anything of course.  Although I'm not a huge fan of flying, the part I actually enjoy are the divine appointments along the way.  Every moment of every day is a mission, because time is short and we have to make the most of every opportunity. 

Do you know how many people I've ministered to in airports and on airplanes?  Countless numbers.  And I love it!   This is what life is about.  Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God more than anything, and we've got to be about the Father's business.  So, on Kingdom business, we will go to JFK/New York this morning, then on to London on an overnight flight, and then arrive in Africa tomorrow night.  The spirit of God is going to be moving in those three airports the next 30 hours in a great way, so just get ready, get ready, get ready cause two fired up Holy Ghost girls are in the house!!


(Photo of me ministering at a convention 3 years ago in Kenya - look at the pulpit and go straight up and there I am.  What an amazing night of miracles!)

Thank you for praying for us during this entire journey.  Be aware when you pray that there is a seven hour time difference.  Nairobi is seven hours AHEAD.  I will be posting whenever I can get on the internet to give an update as to what's happening on our trip.  Even if I can't get online, I will Twitter from my cell phone a few times a day.  To read my Twitter just go to the right hand sidebar here on the blog.  The itinerary is not set in stone, but I believe we will be ministering in the slums on Thursday.  Friday and Saturday is the conference.  Sunday I'll be ministering at the host church.  It's going to be an insanely busy schedule but thankfully I thrive on that.  Pray that Becca can keep up well.  She's 20 years younger than me but anybody who has been around me for longer than a few minutes knows that when Holy Ghost mania hits me I'm like a locomotive going as fast as it can go.

Yesterday I received a letter from my spiritual son over in Africa.  His name is Peter  and I met him on my first trip there.  (To read more about our first meeting and see where Peter lives, go here.) Our hearts were immediately knit together.  He lives in the Mathare Valley slums in a dwelling place you can't even IMAGINE if you tried.    Every week he writes to me, sometimes more than once.  Usually he walks many many miles to a free internet cafe and writes me a short note from there.  Each time I go to Kenya I take him something very special.  This year is no exception.  Somebody from our church has provided a gift that is a long time dream of his.  I am so excited!!!  Giving is the biggest high EVER!!!  I am not going to write here what I'm taking him just in case somebody from Kenya might read this and tell him.   After I come back I'll share here what the special gift is.  Here is his letter to me that I received today: 

Mother, I hope you are strong in the Lord.  Do I blame myself for being busy?  I hope you understand my schedule.  I thank God for every minute I have to communicate with you.  I like to meet the people of your church.  Please give my love to your family and your friend Sue.  God bless you so much, Mother.  ~ Peter

Of course I understand his schedule!   I'm exceedingly glad the Lord has opened up doors for him to work in a place where there is 70% unemployment!!  Soon I will be there in person and able to put the special gift into Peter's hands and watch his face light up.  Last time I arrived he came running as he saw us pull up in the land rover, and as I got out he swung me around and hugged me tighter than I have possibly ever been hugged.  I am so proud of him for all God is doing in his life.

Africa has a way of getting into your heart and forever changing you.  I've been on other foreign missions trips but nothing has a hold on me like Kenya.  The first time I went, I found out what it is like to fall in love with a nation.  My last night there I couldn't sleep and went through an entire box of kleenex, crying my eyes out wondering how I was going to leave.  My heart just wanted to bring my two worlds together and never have to say goodbye. I cried almost all 30 hours home.  And up until recently, I'm not a crier.  But Africa turned my world upside down, tears and all.  Thank you for your prayers the next nine days as we go forth on our mission!  
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