Riley and Sarah

By now most people know that as of June 15, 2011, we are no longer working with Manitoba based Charity Open Doorways Orphanage. We weren’t really super keen on putting something up on our blog or facebook about it as it was a very hard decision to make. However, we thought it might be good to post our letter to keep everyone up to date - even though it’s a little out of date at this point!

 June 14, 2011

To Our Family and Friends,

This letter is to inform you of our recent decision to end our employment with Open Doorways Orphanage. Unfortunately, we have come to the conclusion that we can no longer continue to work for the organization as Fundraisers nor will we be moving to Haiti to become the House Parents of their orphanage.  

We believe Open Doorways will see the vision of a home for Haitian children come to a realization with time and we wish them all the best in this endeavour. However, currently the organization is not in a position to open the orphanage for operations or to send us to Haiti. At this point in time, we are not sure how long it would be before this could take place. We have also come to the realization that the vision we would have for the home does not coincide with that of the Open Doorways’ board of directors.

We have decided to step back and allow the board of directors to consider a plan for the next step of the organization. We have resigned our positions as Fundraisers and will continue our involvement with Open Doorways for a short time on a voluntary basis in order to finish projects that we have started. However it is improbable that we will be moving to Haiti with them in the future.

We want to assure you that your donations have gone to a good cause and we pray God will continue to bless the efforts of the board of directors as they work to create a home for orphaned and abandoned children in Haiti. Also, rest assured that any financial contribution you may have made toward our sponsorship specifically has indeed helped support us over the last three and a half months; without you we would not have been able to give our time to this work. We are confident that our energies have been a benefit in regards to the organization’s awareness and fundraising efforts and we believe we have helped as they begin to understand the next steps in this process.

If you so desire, you can continue to financially support the work of Open Doorways. However, if your support is because of our involvement with the project, you are welcome to reconsider your connection with the organization. Please see below for contact information for Open Doorways.  

We would like to sincerely thank you for the support you have offered; through prayer, encouragement, and finances. We are blessed to have so many people in our lives who care for us.

As we seek God’s guidance in the next phase of our lives, we know he never makes mistakes and he never leaves us. We continue to feel a pull to Haiti and we will continue to watch and wait for God’s leading.

We know that God has called us to commit our lives to working and serving with people who are marginalized or are living in poverty. Even now, as we settle back into life in Winnipeg, we evaluate ourselves according to that call. Siloam Mission has again become a part of our lives and we are taking things one step at a time right now. Wherever we end up and in whatever we find ourselves doing, we believe in God’s love for humanity and his call to true community, and we will always work for that.

As you are aware, our plans have changed many times over the last year and, honestly, we do not understand the ways in which God is working in our lives. But as a good friend recently reminded us, we are not called to understand, we are simply called to follow.

It is difficult to wait, especially when we thought the waiting was over. It is hard to continue to be patient when we look back and feel we have been asked to be so patient already. It is disappointing to find that we have come full circle and have seemingly accomplished very little. Yet, we know that each stage in life is part of a process and right now we are learning how to be constantly patient and how to be satisfied with where we are in the moment. We look forward to taking this time to re-explore our goals and dreams. We are seeking to find comfort in the promise that God knows the plans he has for us and that they are good. 

In gratitude for your unwavering faith in us and your constant support,

Riley and Sarah Enns 

Contact Information for Open Doorways 

Mailing Address:

Box 405

Beausejour, MB

R0E 0C0

Email Address:

opendoorwaysorphanage@gmail.com

Phone Number:

204.268.1530

“Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has all things safely in His hands.”                                    

~ Elizabeth Elliot 

In the book of Luke Jesus tells the story of the prodigal son. You are probably familiar with the parable about a young man who asked his father for his inheritance early and left his family only to squander it away and have to return with his head hung low. Jesus tells us that even though the father had the right to turn his son away or make him a slave to his house, he joyfully welcomes his son home and celebrates his return.

I used to think about the prodigal son in this parable as someone who blatantly wasted something and then came back when his physical resources had run out. I related it to someone who perhaps purposefully turns their back on God. I saw it as someone who either deliberately or apathetically leaves their relationship with God and then comes crawling back when they realize they have gotten themselves into a predicament. I never really pictured myself as that person.

I never used to really understand how the story of the prodigal applied to me. I always thought it was a very moving story of forgiveness and unconditional love and I also felt it was nice to know that God would accept us back into his family no matter how far away we ran. However, I figured that since I had not actually ever completely walked away from my faith and then returned to God at a later date in life, that I didn’t exactly relate to the message.   

A few months ago, out of the blue, I started thinking about this parable and it hit me that I am the prodigal. I realized that even though I have never completely walked away from God, I often forget about God when things are going well. I don’t rely on him in the same way when my life is going well. Then when things get tough or I need something, I go to God. I forget to pray just to talk to God. Then I pray when something’s wrong or I’m asking him to do something for me or for someone else.

I have wasted gifts he has given me. I have not done things I felt he wanted me to do. I have left God in the background. I get angry with him when things don’t go my way. I have forgotten about him. I have tried to do things on my own. I do it every day really.

I don’t think the story of the prodigal son should be seen as a one-time happening. The son had likely hurt his father before. I’m not a parent yet, but I am someone’s child. As such I know that I have hurt my parents more than once and they have accepted me back more than once. And you know what… I think it may happen again one day. I am blessed to know that they will again take me back when that day comes.

It’s the same with God. In different ways I have walked away from him many times and he has accepted me back every time. How many times will he take me back? How many times will he listen to my requests when I haven’t had a conversation with him for days before that? How many times will he hear my apology for neglecting our relationship? How many times can I break his heart?

I know the answer: there is not limit. God will always take me back.

But I am the prodigal. You are the prodigal. We are each, in our own ways, that son who squandered what his father had lovingly bestowed upon him only to shamefully return and be met with not only unexpected grace and forgiveness but also anticipation and great joy.

I am, each and every day, the prodigal. 

– Sarah 

If you haven’t heard of a program called Dropbox yet, now you have.

For anyone who would like to sync files between multiple computers/devices or if you would like to back up certain files with online storage, Dropbox has you covered. 

I am currently using two different computers. When Dropbox is downloaded on both computers and you have signed into your account, all of the files located in the Dropbox folder will be stored online. As soon as I save a file to one computer, the other computer let’s me know a change has been made. If you make changes to a file while offline, it will sync to your account as soon as you are reconnected to the internet. 

If you really need a file and don’t have your computer handy, don’t worry about it. You can log into your Dropbox account from any computer using their website and download the needed file.

You can also get the iphone app that allows you to access your files from the device. Although you can’t make changes to files from your device, you can set certain ones as “favorites” - meaning you can view them even when you’re not online.

The free account comes with 2GB of storage. It isn’t much if you are looking to sync picture, music, or video files, but I use my free account to make sure my office documents are accessible from anywhere and are backed up for safe keeping. You can also pay for more storage space if you’d like.

I would highly recommend using Dropbox.

Follow this link for more information: http://db.tt/eVikXj2 

Inspiring, encouraging, challenging, moving. A poem by William Ernest Henley:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.