{"id":3,"date":"2010-05-28T18:00:59","date_gmt":"2010-05-28T18:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/redletters\/2010\/05\/hello-beliefnet.html"},"modified":"2010-05-28T18:00:59","modified_gmt":"2010-05-28T18:00:59","slug":"hello-beliefnet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/redletters\/2010\/05\/hello-beliefnet.html","title":{"rendered":"Hello Beliefnet"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

In August 27, 2006, I penned my very first blog entry. Over the past four years, so much has changed. I went back to my first post, and thought it would be fitting to start my Beliefnet blogging experience with those same words. I’ve put in notes the things that have changed.<\/p>\n

While much has changed, one thing is ever-constant. God has called me to use my voice to motivate others to protect and care for orphans around the world. It is a sacred call, and I privileged to share that with you here on this new Red Letters blog on Beliefnet.<\/p>\n

Happy Memorial Day Weekend. Do something fun with your extra day off.<\/p>\n

Blogging
\nWorld Here I Come!<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"Africa_dan_snipes_064_2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Well, I’ve finally made it to the blogging realm. Better late than
\nnever! <\/p>\n

The whole
\npoint of maintaining this kind of site is four-fold: <\/p>\n

1. To connect with
\nfriends near and far <\/p>\n

2. To share our lives together <\/p>\n

3. To discuss the
\nlife of publishing and to talk about what it’s like to write a book <\/p>\n

4.
\nContinue to share the needs of orphans around the world and find ways
\nfor others to help in practical ways.<\/p>\n

So on that note, Hayden (who is now 9) and I just returned from
\nSwaziland and South Africa. An amazing place filled with overwhelming
\nsorrow. I loved the country, a beautiful place. But the reality of death
\nthere is too much to bear. In Swaziland, the HIV infection rate is over
\n60%. There were 20 of us on the trip, and it was extremely difficult
\nfor all of us to think that over half of the people we were meeting
\nwould be dead in 5-7 years. <\/p>\n

Here’s a small part of what I wrote in my
\njournal,<\/p>\n

“<\/i>From a natural standpoint there are no
\nanswers. There is no hope. Darkness pervades, and though the light of
\nthe sun breaks across the horizon, this place dwells in darkness. In
\nmany ways it is darkness. It is heavy, sobering, unreal. I want to run,
\nto hide, and never come back. I want to pretend like I never came to
\nthis place. I don’t want to face the reality of what this side of the
\nworld faces every single day.” <\/i>
<\/span><\/p>\n

Have you ever felt this way? Maybe even
\nabout your own life?<\/span><\/p>\n

The truth is that God has called me there and I must face the
\nchallenges in that part of the world with faith. The strange thing about
\nbeing in Africa is that I felt so much hope. Hope that God would, and
\nis, doing something miraculous and incredible. <\/p>\n

That Children’s HopeChest<\/a> gets to begin
\nministry in this place that has such great need. There is no answer but
\nGod, and I’m glad to be right smack in the middle of it! By the way,
\nI’ll be doing another trip in March if you’re interested. More to
\ncome…<\/p>\n

Author’s Updated Notes: <\/b>Hayden is now 13. He’s been to Swaziland one other time, and will go back to South Africa this summer to catch some World Cup matches with me. His soccer team won the Colorado State Cup, and he’ll also travel to Sweden with the U.S. Olympic Development Handball Team. I’ve been to Swaziland many other times, including spending the entire month of June 2007 with my family living with the people there. At the time this was written, I had not written <\/i>Red Letters<\/a>. In fact, Red Letters <\/a>was born out of many of my experiences in Swaziland. That book launched 5 for 50<\/a>, a fundraising campaign that provides food for children in Africa. HopeChest<\/a> now works in four African countries (Swaziland, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Africa) as well as Russia, Haiti, India, and Guatemala. I’ve seen my two adopted daughters get married, and I am part of a rare group of people known as “grandparents in their 30s.” <\/i><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In August 27, 2006, I penned my very first blog entry. Over the past four years, so much has changed. I went back to my first post, and thought it would be fitting to start my Beliefnet blogging experience with those same words. I’ve put in notes the things that have changed. 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