Chris has just started a sermon series at Southpoint Church about big faith.

I have said the phrase “big faith” about 286 times since Sunday. I think of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s song “Baby Got Back” every single time I say it. If you don’t know that song, don’t Google it. My cousin just texted me a revised version of, “I like Big Faith, and I cannot lie"… So, at least know you know who you’re working with here.

(Photo by Peter Conlan on Unsplash)

It’s easy to talk about “technology fatigue” and issues with church, work and life happening virtually. I’m so proud of my man for pushing boundaries and breaking through barriers. Although he’s currently preaching to an empty room and a camera, he’s calling people into the family of Christ. He’s inviting people to salvation and preaching with passion and power. And it works! Even virtually, people are coming to Christ and being discipled into a deeper relationship with Him!

South Africa is back on lockdown, and it’s easy to turn attention toward what we cannot do according to restrictions. But, you know what’s so cool… We can still pray together! This week, I had an opportunity to host a live, international prayer event with Help Club for Moms. Moms from around the world came together to hear encouragement from God’s Word and to pray together. It was so powerful, I realized that our church could still access the power of corporate prayer together. The prayer ministry I’ve been so excited to start… is starting! We don’t need to meet together physically to pray together. God’s power is here. No walls required!

We did it! We did it! We did it! All 3 of those “We did it’s” count because here’s what we did:

1. We packed up an entire house, moved, and unpacked it all over again...

2. WHILE Chris worked 18 hour days to get things in order for church online, and I was kickstarting our new virtual Help Club Bible study…

3. WHILE Benjamin and I had COVID.

We’re reaching back into the archives today! I originally published this story on November 5, 2012. This Thanksgiving season and this talk about giving made me think of it again.

There’s just nothing like watching a miracle unfold in your very own hands. The awe, wonder and supernatural power of a miracle breaks off chains, swings locked doors wide open, and makes the impossible possible in your life. If you happen to be low on faith or hope this holiday season, borrow some of mine. These aren’t empty calories. They are real, filling, and there are plenty of leftovers! Enjoy the read!

It can be draining to be the safe one, the one who always gets the worst of someone. To keep giving them your time, care, compassion, kindness and love, when they’ve spent all of theirs elsewhere. Your kids. Your spouse. Your whoever. The people that feel safe with you often give their best to the world and bring home what’s leftover. But you know what? I don’t want my boys to bring their emergencies and intimate needs to the world.

If you’ve been around me or my writing for more than a minute, you’ve probably noticed I talk a lot about the Help Club for Moms. I reached out to the leader, Deb, over a year ago and asked if I could bring Help Club to South Africa and “make it a thing”.

I’ve lost count of how many phone calls, prayers and encouraging discussions I’ve had with Deb and the Help Club team members since then. I’ve been honored to write regularly for the international ministry.

We were created for eternal life, therefore we want our earthly lives to impact the generations to come. I think that’s why I can get flustered by the mundane, repetitive motions of life: crumb cleaning, work commuting, zoom calling, laundry folding, diaper changing, car washing. I probably “should” say that every countertop you wipe down is for the glory of God. It’s true that it’s harder to leave a legacy on two months of toast crumbs. But also.... Maybe there’s more.

Today, I broadcasted a teaching for Help Club for Moms all over the world. I wanted to speak specifically to those of us who feel like it’s hard to “get it right”, there’s always something slipping away from us, there’s never enough of us to get it all done. I wanted to speak truth and some practical real life into dismantling, chaotic thoughts. You don’t have to be a mama to relate to that!

Brag session: Chris Ladd was looking goooood on Sunday morning at Southpoint Church online. I’ve been hitting on him ever since. There’s just something so right about a man who has walked through the deepest, darkest of times and climbs out of it to tell others about the faithfulness of Jesus. Am I right?

In 2014, I was a single missionary living in the African bush. At one stage, every other leader of the ministry I was working with had to travel out of the country, and I was singlehandedly leading a local staff, missions staff, hosting international missions teams, facilitating all ministry and running the missions base. At that same time, I heard the popular speaker, Christine Caine, share her amazing life’s accomplishments. She said when she started to feel like she had too much on her plate, she’d ask God for a bigger plate. I started to pray that same prayer, and God was so faithful.

Boom. Clap. Boom. Clap.

The sound on the kitchen counter during breakfast this morning. Lifa was trying to teach Benjamin how to slap his palms down on the countertop and then clap to make a beat. It was adorable. Benjamin will do anything Lifa does. (Which is not always adorable.)

I’m so happy you’re here. Really. I feel like you and I have a special thing when you’re here. Like oceans, continents, not even pandemics can keep us apart. I feel like you’ve been to my house, gotten glimpses of my heart, and have been completely inundated with photos of my children.

It’s the first day back to school for Lifa after another 2 week COVID-inspired holiday. That boy is ready to be around kids his own age! His little brother will be sad to see him go. We’ve had a beautiful time together in our beautiful city. Cape Town, we love you!

Yesterday was Ladd Family Screenapaloouza! (It’s very weird that auto-correct just kicked in and added a “u” to that word. Is screenapaloouza a real word?!) Chris preached the message for church online, and Lifa was featured in a worship dance video for kids. I live with legends! I had been prepping all week to record a short video series for Help Club for Moms, and we decided Sunday was the best day for me to film.

Lifa: "Hey, Mom. How many people are in South Africa?"

Me: "Hey Siri, what is the population of South Africa."

Siri: "In 2019, the population of South Africa was 59,622,350."

Lifa: "Ok, think about this. What if every person in South Africa gave 5 Rand? We could help so many poor people with Coronavirus! What if ever person even gave 50 Rand?" (R50 ZAR = $3 USD)

Saturday was Mandela Day - a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact. As you can imagine for us here in South Africa, Mandela Day is a BIG DEAL! Nelson Mandela fought for social justice for 67 years, so we celebrate his birthday on July 18th each year by spending 67 minutes to serve others.

I didn’t know what to do with a newborn. I needed my mom. Lifa needed his mom. My body and my husband’s mental health were shutting down. I desperately sought refuge in God’s Word through the YouVersion Bible app - the easiest thing to hold onto while caring for a baby. I found incredible encouragement through a plan by the Help Club for Moms there and decided to do a little research on their website.

Suddenly, there was help! There were moms! There was hope! I didn’t know how much moms needed moms and people needed hope until I ran out - until I was stuck half a world away from my mom and didn’t know how to be the mom to the kids living at my house.

I have a vision. My eyes don’t see it, but my heart does. So I set the table by heart instead of sight. 

On Tuesdays, I pack a bin full of anything pretty I can find in my house. Tablecloths from the linen closet. The vase of flowers from the kitchen. The candles from the bathrooms. The colorful candy dishes. The frames and decor scattered around the house. And the fruit bowl. 

I love Thursday mornings. I buy beautiful flowers, roll out a tablecloth, and spread out scrumptious snacks, tea and coffee. I sprinkle board books, blocks, and baby blankets throughout the living room. At 10am, our house fills with moms and babes for Cape Town’s first ever Help Club for Moms.