Sunday, February 20, 2011

vrooom vrooom

14 months in america and now my friend, Nari, is an official "Red Neck".



.....every time i think of this it makes me laugh from the inside out. She wanted a hot car and this one certainly is... stereo system...spoiler... even has the muffler that makes the vrooom vrooom sound. So if you locals see my dear little Nari vroomming down the road give her a honk and tell her to slow down!


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

3 days left

3 days left and i am teetering between giddiness, going insane, and supernatural peace.

The insanity part would definitely be my to do list though it is now almost done.

i was going to try to do some kind of huge craigs sale this week to meet my $2,250 goal for the water well (read here if you are lost as to what i am talking about) but.... i don't think it is going to happen... i will be lucky if i get packed. Though i did post about 15 things on craigs, 15 on ebay, and 120 books on amazon a couple week ago (about 40 have already sold).

Through what we have sold so far and a random gift that ended up in my purse (thank you whoever you are!) i think we are reaching the $700 mark. The fun part is getting rid of stuff. It is better than buying it.. i know i am crazy! I will definitely be finishing up selling everything after we get back. And I will keep you posted those who are rooting for me...

If you love Jesus and love us...please pray for us... so many specifics... but especially for the boys there health, sleep, peace, and awareness. And probably the same for us.

I will kiss your orphan for you and if you don't have one that you sponsor.. i will hand pick one just for you while i am there... i will even you tube a video of the precious one for you... just let me know. :)

sigh... if i have it my way... i may not be coming back for a while. :)


To do list left:
finish Ladies/caretaker meeting and widows meeting notes
pack for all 4 of us ( i do have a pile of stuff on the bed in the "India" room) :)
pack airplane entertainment for a 3 1/2 year old and almost 2 year old
Help Nari (my Nepali/Bhutanese friend who just got her license!) find a car:
anyone have any suggestions? She is looking for yr-2000 + , red or white, low mileage
for$3,700 or less - good gas mileage car
Clean house --- it is in a sad state right now... really sad.
10 people to pray everyday for us
mail rest of valentines cards :)
Love on baby Juddah one last time
Find a replacement for nursery duty on the 27th... any volunteers?... i will take your spot when i get back.. if i come back.... jk

Buy:
USB drive
water bottle with protective spouts
long skirt (goodwilling tomorrow)
Gifts - Brita water filters and jugs
Pediasure
camera?

i see the finish line coming for me.... though pray for my hubby just got back from Haiti and now leaving for India... his to do list is HUMONGOUS!


My little man sleeping...just started with a little cold last night.. please pray it clears us so he is feel his 100% self for the flights.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Mary part 2!

There are over 25 million street children in Asia alone. Murder, consistent sexual, physically, and verbal abuse, and inhumane treatment are the “norm” for these children. And this would be the fate of our precious children in India if it weren’t for the national leaders who take these children in and sponsors like you who help us to feed, clothe and love them.

This past year seven year old Mary came to one of our homes in India. Her relatives loved her but couldn’t afford to feed her and care for her. In November we received a call from our main national partner. Mary was visiting with a relative, and while the relative was away at work someone came and stole her.

Our hearts were broken. The police searched but could not find her. They told us that were many stolen children in that area and none of them had ever been found. We rallied people to pray but humanly it looked bleak.

This past weekend we received word that after 2 months, a sheer miracle from God, they found Mary. She was stolen by a Hindu family and made a slave. Now she is safe and secure.

God does not forget the cry of any child. Even though the world may forget their existence He values every life He creates. He rescued Mary!

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds. For He cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer. Psalm 9:9-12

There over 25 million children just like Mary that need someone to show them love.


Lalitha is in the center. She is one of our children that we pray for and sponsor. In one week Elijah will be able to meet his "sister" as he so fondly calls her.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Love is...


"This is how we know what Love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us." 1 John 3:16

God defines love differently that our culture does. He says and shows us that love = sacrifice. If we really want to love others it will cost us something. Totally opposite of our culture's version of love... "what's in it for me".

God has been revealing to me so much recently about this abiding/dwelling/living in Him and about His sacrificial love. In Him, by Him, with Him and for Him we should live...that is where the true life we were created to live is found.

So that is what Jonathan and i want more than anything to love God and through and in Him love the world.


My hubby just got back from showing and sharing love to the precious people that live in the Ravine (the slums of Port-au-Prince). Several years ago God opened a door through our friends Jim and Debbie Hambrick (Christian Light Foundation) and Sherri Fausy a woman who left everything here over 10 years ago to go there and show sacrificial love to the people there. She has started a school and an orphanage.

Through one time gifts Global Partners has partnered with many others to build the school. We also support school children and orphans through monthly sponsors. This school helps to educate 250 Ravine children. Sherrie's orphanage provides a home, and a family to 30 orphaned or abandoned children.

Our biggest prayer is for someone to come and live there and work with Sherrie and show and share love with the people of the Ravine.

Jonathan brought a team of 12 with him. They helped with the schools electrical needs and construction, brought things to the tent cities, taught women how to sow, taught classes for the children, feed babies and gave medical care, overall.... just simply loved people.

We have 180 school children left that need a sponsor. If you would want to support a Ravine child to go to school for $30 a month you can begin by emailing Melissa at mwills@gpartners.org

Because our administrative costs are subsided by individuals, businesses, and churches we are able to give 100% of the money you give to that child or project you give it to.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His love for us...


Friday, February 4, 2011

seize the day life lessons part #3

Some highlights from our "Seize the Day" month: i think i learned just as much as them if not more. i love God’s words!!!!

We memorized Psalm 118:24... thanks to somebody who made it into a song …it was pretty easy.



Elijah thoroughly enjoyed story time. i read all the verses and passages from the Bible to him in story format and drew a picture about the story that he colored. Though my drawing lacked a lot... he didn't mind...he was in quite an artistic mood this month. The pics below is all of his art for the month.


We did an activity or art project about every day. Emphasizing all verses that teach us what God thinks about how we should live every day of our life. It was so powerful! Here are just a few highlights from the month…


Number of my days

Verse: Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Psalm 39:4-5

Time: 45 min You will need: Bag of beans (lentils work well), 12x12 scrap paper or any thick paper, Large Picture of the child face or whole body, Glue


You can print out the verse like I did or just write it on the top of the paper. Also write the key (1 bean = 7 days) glue one bean then “= 7 days”. Cut out the back ground of the picture of the child for a cleaner look. Then talk about the verse and its meaning – that we only have moments here in this world so we must Seize the Day and do all of what God wants us to. Count how many weeks the child has lived so far. Then discuss that one bean equals seven days. Count out a bean for every week the child has lived. Then glue on the lentils on the picture. After it dries hang it up.



Another life is but a breath/seize the day lesson - Pinwheel


You will need: Straight stick or dowel rod, Thumb Tack, Double sided scrapbook paper (or glue to different colored patterned papers together and let dry), Scissors, Glue, Pin/pencil

Cut paper into 5 inch square then draw a straight line from one corner to the next to make an X. Cut along the lines halfway to the center and then fold and glue every other edge down on the center dot slightly over lapping. Then tack with map tack onto dowel rod. Make sure it is loose enough that it spins then blow on a watch twirl. Talk about the verse and talk about how our life is a short as a breath of air. Talk about how God wants us to live our short little lives and how in a short amount of time we can make a big impact that will last for eternity/forever if we let Him work through like the air spins the pinwheel. We snaped one with a wood clothes pin to this picture to remind us to pray for Lalitha (our Indian orphan we sponsor).


Ant Farm (teaching diligence)

Verses: Proverbs 6:6-11 You will need: 2 glass jars/or fish bowl (one large and one smaller jar or tube that will fit into large one),

Ants (You can purchase these fairly cheap or go searching for an ant mound of your own, avoid red ants that bite), Dirt,

Shovel, hammer, thumb tack



On the top of the metal lid hammer small holes for air with thumb tack. Place the smaller jar/tube into the larger one. This will help the ants to build their tunnels where you can see them and not in the center. Then shovel dirt in the larger jar and add ants and place lid on it. Ant like building in the dark so keep them in a dark room or closet when you are not viewing them. If you are capturing your own ants, capture get as many as you can including the larger ones, little white eggs and the ones with wings (queen ant possibly). If ants are not available you can order them online. Since it is cold here and ants are not running about yet I bought mine for 4.95 free shipping: http://antsalive.com/antssupplies.htm Ants like to eat small bread crumbs, or bread dipped in sugar water or with a drop of honey. They can also eat tiny bits of fruit and vegetables but don't feed them too much or their tank can get cluttered before they can remove it to their underground storage space.To water your new pets, let your child drop a water soaked cotton ball into the jar. Most of the liquid ants need they can get from their food but it is a good idea to add a new wet cotton ball every few days as needed. Avoid moving the “Farm”. After Ant farm has been building for a few days take time to observe. Talk about how diligently they work to build their home: What are the ants doing? Are they sleeping? Are they working hard?


Drawing Dinner

Verse: So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Time: Dinner time. (5 minutes prep) You will need: One large sheet of white or light colored paper (Recycle and use the white side of old wrapping paper), table cloth, Markers or crayons

Before dinner place table cloth on table for padding and then cover completely with one large sheet of paper. Write the verse large in the middle. Then set the dinner table. Dinner time is such a great time of day to relax and spend time together as a family. Invite the family to dine and draw and color all you did that day and discuss what you each of you did and how you did it to bring fame to God and joy to Him or things you learned about Him that day.



Daddy was such a good sport and drew his day and what he did for the glory of the Lord too... that is his office and the smoke coming out of the window is his brain working for the glory of God. :)

Daily i think about these two dear women that i have had the privilege of knowing. Please pray for Jimmy, Kathy’s husband, it has already been a week since her passing.. and i don’t know what he is going through but i just can’t imagine.

During my Texas years serving Teen Mania both of these women with a few others would get together and pray for me. They would write me encouraging notes spurring me along. God used these intercessors in a powerful way in my life and all over the world. Their life example encourages me to pray fervently for others.... this along with all of the scriptures in this study have really began a transforming work deep within me....hard to put into words yet.


Thursday, February 3, 2011

hosting kings


Today in my home... in my arms .....was a precious baby boy from Ethiopia, Baby Juddah.

His hero - a woman who was simply obedient to God - Cherrie Cornish, from Oregon, sit with us and told us his story.

She met this little one on a divine trip to Korah in Addis, Ethiopia. Korah is trash dump where Juddah's mom and his five year old sister along with countless others scrumage through the trash to find food.




She was helping with a clinic in the Korah slums when one of her friend's brought her to a home where there was a young mom.

In the dark room under some covers were two babies just around 10 days old, twins Juddah and Sarah. Their bodies were cold and at first she thought they were dead. When she saw that they still had a little life left in them, with the mother's blessing, she slipped them under her clothes to warm them and took them to the clinic.

After a week of nursing them back to health she notice their was a problem with Juddah. The doctors said he had hydrocephalus "water on the brain" and the only thing to do was wait for him to die. Cherrie could not accept that. She went to every large hospital in Ethiopia and they would not take him. Her only hope was to bring him to the U.S.

So she posted a message on facebook to see if their was a surgeon and hospital willing to provide what little Juddah needed. And after a series of God miracles she got him a visa. Roanoke Carillon was the first to reply! Friends that work at the hospital told us of this little miracle baby.

So that is how little Juddah ended up in my arms today...

Both Jonathan and i nearly broke into a million pieces when we saw him. We have seen children and babies from slums and dumps all over the world... but here .....in our home...I felt so humbled.. like i was hosting a king.

Please read more about his story and what Project 61 is doing for the children in Korah, Addis, Ethiopia. And please pray for little Juddah and all his life has in store.

I look forward to many more visits with Cherrie and this precious Juddah.

Every life matters... thank you, Cherrie, for fighting for this little life... you inspire us all....to be like Christ... and give sacrificial love.

Juddah, Sarah, their mom and grandma