Sudan...the AIDS crisis in Africa...natural disasters at home and abroad ....hunger...famine...war. 

He asks us to "go into all the world" and share His love - but even when we are willing to obey, we are faced with the realities of our stretched-thin lives.  We have limited time, limited resources, limited ability.  With all the tasks that rise like a mountain before us each day, how can we find time to teach our children to care about people they've never seen or heard of?  The overwhelming need can be paralyzing, keeping us from doing anything. 

Edith Schaeffer, in her wise book , "Common Sense Christian Living," reminds us 

"We can't each 'do everything,' but there is 'everything to be done' by one or another of us."

We are not personally responsible to meet every need of the world, nor does our wise Father ask us to go into every corner of the world all by ourselves.  No, He places His people in specific areas and sets before them specific tasks.  Our job is to listen for His directions and obey. 

Start by looking around you to discover what God has already put in your path.

1.  Look for personal connections: 

~Perhaps your family knows and/or supports a missionary or a worker in a foreign country.   Maybe your neighbor immigrated from a distant nation or someone you know has adopted a child from overseas.   Personal connections help bring the world home to you and your children, making it easier to understand that there are real people across the world with real needs.  Those connections can point you to God's target areas for your family.

2. Learn about that area of the world: 

 ~Add a map of your target area to a wall.  Learn the geography of the country.  What is the climate like?  How do the peoples make their living?  What are the major cities and landscape features?   What role has this country played in recent history?

~If you know a missionary or foreign worker in the area, correspond with them.   People love to talk about their homes and tell you of their daily lives.  This is a wonderful first-hand resource for children.  Ask your kids what they would like to know about the country and help them ask in a letter or an email.  Most missionaries send out periodic newsletters.  Make sure you are on the mailing list.

~Learn about the customs of your target area.  Check out books from the library and find out what foods are enjoyed.  Many ethnic recipes are available online.  Plan a world-dinner and try cooking some foods you have never tried before!  Don't forget to find out about table customs.  Do the people of your target area sit at a table to eat?  or on the floor?  Do they eat with a fork and spoon?  or with chopsticks?  or with their hands?   What new manners would you need to learn to be polite in that area of the world?

~Educate yourself.   Keep your ears and eyes open for news reports.  Learn about the government and politics.  If you know missionaries in the area, be aware of the challenges and potential risks they face.  Pray for them regularly.

3. Invest in your target area:

~Pray.  Make it a routine part of every day to come before the throne of God and intercede for the people He has directed you to.   It needn't be elaborate or take a long time.  Our family prays simply after breakfast, a different child taking a turn each day, praying whatever is on their heart.

~Find out about that country's specific needs.  If you don't know a person living there, contact a relief organization, such as World Vision, or Mercy Corps and find out what you and your family can do to help.  Perhaps you might like to set a giving goal as a family and work together to meet it.

~Find out if you can purchase products that will support the local economy of your target area.  Stores like Ten Thousand Villages are a good place to start. 

If each of us points our attention to the target areas the Lord has given us, we will truly be able to go into all the world with His love. 

Are you ready?

Let's go!