A MAN...AND HIS MISSION

Ray Haakonsen grew up in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe and spent his early years recognized for his athleticism going on to play Rugby at a national level. He was a decorated bush pilot and seemed to have everything going for him but things changed for Ray when a change in government forced him to move to another country and being a job in sales with colleagues 10 or more years younger than Ray. He shares his HOW I DID IT story today, reminding us, God has a direction for all of us, even when we are cemented in a rut.

In March 1984, caught in a rapidly declining spiral, I divorced my wife Sue, resigned from my job and left home and 2 children aged 6 and 3, behind.

Six months of soul-searching and loss of confidence followed, resulting in an attempted suicide, and a radical encounter with God. A simple whisper in my ear, "Get right with me and go back to your wife" set in motion a new purpose and vision which continues to this day.

In November 1984 my wife and I reconciled and remarried. Just three years later we stepped out together "in faith" with a radical calling to missions and serving others. I served in Youth With A Mission (YWAM), mainly in leadership roles, with a purpose of improving others personal situations, largely through teaching and discipleship. Living by faith I had the privilege of sharing God's word in 16 countries.

In 1999, whilst serving as the National Director of YWAM in the small country of Lesotho, my wife challenged me with a vision to reach out to serve vulnerable children caught in the throes of poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic which was devastating Lesotho. In our resulting research , we found seven abandoned babies in the local hospital who weren't being cared for. With five babies being HIV positive,the staff concluded they would probably die anyway.

But that challenge continued to obsess in my soul and in June 2010 with the permission of Social Welfare, we began in a small three room house with five beds, seven babies under seven months old and no known financial backing or resources. This small step of obedience led to us establishing a care center for vulnerable children called Beautiful Gate Lesotho

Ten years later over 350 babies (many HIV positive) had come through our gates, 170 of them were adopted into 'forever families' in eight different countries, over 100 returned to family and sadly we buried 33 who had succumbed to HIV/AIDS related illnesses. At the same time we grew from a staff of four volunteers to over 40 full time paid staff as well as additional volunteers. A $2 million care center was also established with baby houses, clinic, chapel, pre-school, living quarters for staff and volunteers, offices, workshops and a garage. A project (Beautiful Gardens) to help sustain the ministry was also initiated. Special attention was given to provide a pleasant, excellent and caring environment for children and staff to enjoy. Hundreds of people world-wide partnered with us to establish and sustain the center. Lives of those previously not exposed to the immense destruction of HIV/AIDS became involved in caring for these vulnerable and special children through giving, praying and volunteering.

After 10 years of establishing Beautiful Gate Lesotho, we handed it over and moved to Cape Town South Africa. The ministry continues to thrive. Once again, at age 57, I have embarked on a new life adventure through writing and speaking.

I currently use my website http://rayhaakonsen.com (Maximised Living) to blog and develop a "tribe".My first book, "An Arrested Heart" http://rayhaakonsen.com/?page_id=92 was published in June 2010.

In this new season I'm motivated to Encourage, Provoke, Inspire and Challenge, supporting others to live, driven by their passions.

Lessons I have learned along the way:

• Discovery of Gifts and talent and maximizing them is key.
• Passion carries
• Start with what's in your hand.
• Belief in a vision perseveres through trying times and doubt-sayers.
• Courage is required, but rewarded
• Being intentional about hard work and excellence pay off.
• People are more important than projects
• Dreams and action are both necessary to do anything extraordinary
• Lean on The One who knows all things
• Ordinary people can do extraordinary things in His name.

Ray has been happily married for 35 years and has 3 married biological children, 2 adopted daughters (12 and 9) and 3 grandchildren. You can learn more about Ray and talk with him directly at the links below.

email: rayhaakonsen@gmail.com

Facebook : www.facebook.com/ray.haakonsen

Twitter: @rayhaak