WIDOWS and Orphans

Did you know that the UN describes an orphan as any child who has lost one or both parents, especially if the living parent is unable to adequately care for the child?

When we think of the word, ORPHAN and VULNERABLE, we think of a child who has no parents.  We certainly don't think of helping a child who has a loving mother.  . . Until we learn a bit more about widows.

Widows own nothing.  Strike that, women own nothing.  Not really. . .whatever they can own, can be removed at any given moment.  

We heard stories from precious women. . .

Women who spoke of the hardest day of their lives.  The day their husband or father died and his entire clan came in to steal from them, before the bodies were even laid to rest.

The clan just came in to the family hut and took everything. . including the tin roof.

This is what it's like being the child of a widow.  

This is why the children of widows are still considered orphans.  They often have NOTHING.  They are shunned and often blamed for their husbands death.  This leaves their children not only without a daddy, but without a provider. . of food, school fees and protection.

Heartbreaking?  yes.  But God is doing a work.  

Remember James 1:27, "pure and undefiled religion is this, to take care of widows and orphans in their time of distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  Often, we jump on the orphan bandwagon, but we often forget the whole widow part.  

This is where the TESO Widows come in.  . .listen to Beatrice's story.

Beatrice is the woman who leads the Teso Widows.  Yes, she leads 20,000 widows in the Teso Region of Uganda.  They now have it divided into districts and even sub-districts because there are so many widows!  Each of these precious women carry around a register of all the orphans in their area.  Literally a lined piece of paper filled with children's names, ages and villages.  The children who have lost one or both of their parents.  Children who weigh on these widows hearts.  Can you imagine having a burden to do something for the orphans and for the other widows and having NO resources with which to help?

This is where WE come in!  We get to partner with these wonderful women!  

THIS IS A CARE POINT!!!!  We (Children's HopeChest and YOU) partner with the widows in an area and we get to provide much needed resources so that they can minister to the precious children of their district!  So, THEY can feed the children (the widows will VOLUNTEER to cook and serve the meals 6 days a week).  Then, the care points can expand over time and as churches get more and more involved in THEIR carepoint.  They can provide medical care, school fees, a community garden, clean water, classes, teaching a trade and most importantly JESUS to this community!  

Talk about running to the aid of a WIDOW AND ORPHAN!!!!  Does this excite you?  These precious women who have lost everything. . .we get to help them keep their children!  These precious children who have lost so much. . .we get to help them EAT!

Your church can make a difference by sponsoring a care point!  Your STATE can make a difference by gathering all of the churches together to sponsor all of the care points in an entire district.  There is something stirring here and it's an act of God.  Remember that old Experiencing God principle of "join God where He's at work"?  Well, He's at work in the TESO region of Uganda.  Get on board!

Meet Mauwa

When you are an adoptive mama, there is something in you that says "if a child doesn't have a parent. . .I can do it".  

This complicates sponsorship.  . .

I hadn't thought about it that much because I didn't know most of the details of 

Mauwa's life.  (remember Molly?, it IS the same girl!)  When we went to Nabakalu, I was abl

e to spend a few moments with Mauwa.  She is a VERY shy girl, and doesn't speak a ton of English which makes communication a little hard.  However, she LOVED th

at Greg had written her 5 times already and she really liked the family picture that I brought over.  I also had her sponsorship profile with me (to remember her last name) and she wanted to keep it.  It is unlikely that she has very many pictures of herself, so I'm sure that was a treat.

The hard part was talking to the leaders of Nabakalu and getting more of her story.  I knew that her mama had died just before our last visit in October, but didn't know anything else.  Norman told me that both of her parents had died from hiv/AIDS.  She now lives at the Home of Champions Orphanage.   

Uganda has an interesting law.  During school holidays (the months of May, September and January) all children who are living at schools or orphanages must return home.  This is to protect their heritage, their ties to their tribe/clan and to keep ownership rights to ancestral land.  They are supposed to go stay with some kind of extended family (there is always SOME family to be found in Uganda).  What makes it difficult is that the extended family doesn't always WANT the child to come back and often doesn't have the means to take care of the child when they do.  

This is what is breaking my heart for Mauwa.  They called Mauwa back to the orphanage for the time we were there, which thrilled her.  Why?  Because during holidays she has to go back to her village and live with her uncles.  Norman told me that she doesn't like this because they don't treat her well. . .and often don't feed her.  

I don't know what to do with this in my heart.  Here she is my responsibility to love and pray for. . that's what sponsorship is, right?  And she is hurting.  My heart aches for her.  Will you join me in praying for her safety?  Praying that she has enough food to eat?  Praying that God turns the hearts of those in her home village towards her?  As an adoptive mama, I just want to scoop her up and protect her from all of this, but I can't.  

Ogoloi

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Those who gave so that we could meet needs on the ground. . .I have no words but thank you. Here is a man who's life was touched. He hasn't been able to start his ARV's b/c he didn't have food in his system. The food YOU provided will enable him to start treatment soon. Thank you.

My heart is torn

I'm back!  A friend of mine twittered me and said, "welcome back. . .I was going to say Welcome Home but home is where your heart is and. . ."  This is so true.  While I am thrilled to be here with my husband, my kids and my friends, family and church, I have also left a part of my heart half a world away.  I guess this means I have two homes.  The American dream, huh?

I think that at this point I will always be missing something.  When I am here, I miss Africa terribly.  When I am there I miss my friends and family here.  I'm trying to let this be a reminder of how my heart is meant to ache.  We are never supposed to be comfortable and at ease, but longing for a life of fulfillmen

t that can only be found in Jesus when we get to heaven.  

For now. . I feel ruined once again.  Gloriously ruined for sure.  I will never forget or regret the experience of entering if only for a moment the suffering of others.  I will chose to remember their faces.   It may make me an awkward American and force me to live between two worlds and the tension that causes, but I believe it's worth it.  I can't pretend I haven't seen this.  I used to calculate everything in $7 increments. . .what am I going to do now that I know we can feed someone a meal for $0.17 ?  How do I justify that in my mind?  How do I comprehend that we have been given much. . . .and we aren't sharing very well with our brothers and sisters?  My heart aches.

Coming home isn't easy. . .I don't know where home is anymore.  Thank you for all of you who DO make this feel like home and if you're reading this (Joseph). . .pass on all my thanks to those in Uganda who certainly made that feel like home too.  

PS Keep checking back, I have many more Uganda posts coming in the next week or so. . .still processing a lot.  I also have videos and photos I'm working on (since I'm up at 3:45 today)

Changing Faces

150 million orphans worldwide

2+ million orphans in Uganda alone

22 million adults and children with hiv/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa

1,000,000 in Uganda alone 

Staggering, isn't it?  Hard to fathom and really wrap my mind around this large of a number.  

Until I see a face.  May I ask you to substitute a face and a name with those overwhelming statistics?  Maybe this way, we may start to care. . .to stop, to pray. . .to do something

This is Rose.  Both of her parents died of AIDS.  She is now living at Pastor John's orphanage (a possible sponsorship site!).  She is not only an AIDS orphan, but an innocent child living with this disease that may kill her.  Look into her eyes. . .replace her face with the nameless/faceless statistic

This is Joshua.  He is 18 months old and living temporarily at Amicet, a ministry that helps children get healthy and on ARVs (Anti-Retro-Viral Meds) and then places them back home with much support.  Look at his eyes. . .let them change the way you think of the AIDS pandemic, they sure changed me.

Preaching in a Mud Hut Church. . .

Today was a precious, refreshing day.  We were able to sleep in a bit, which is good because we've been staying up REALLY late!  We headed to church in a village called Ogoloi which is also a potential care point! 

This village is out in the BUSH.  You can't see an electric wire for miles and in this area you can't even see other villages.  Just African plains, trees and huts everywhere you look.  Very cool.  There are a ton of huge trees too.  I can so picture a church partnering with this village and spending time there.  You could have VBS under the huge tree while eating mangoes that are just dripping off the tree.  When we drove up all 

of the children were waiting in the shade of the tree and singing for us.  The women were doing the scream/cheer that sounds very tribal and is so welcoming (I can't figure out how to write this to describe it well).  The children immediately began singing my new favorite worship song.  .  . "Why don't you praise the Lord, why don't you shake your head? Why don't you shake your body and praise the Lord."  cracked me up!  

It was a sweet church in a large mud hut.  There were probably 100 adults and another 100 kids.  We spent time in worship which was just adorable b/c there were 3 or 4 little ones who danced like crazy right in front of us.  Too cute!  

Then, it was time for the preaching. . . .

By the way, Did you know that it is customary for the visitors to preach?

Yeah. . that meant me.  seriously =)

I got up and gave a full on message. . .complete with 3 points. . .and had a man translate it into Ateso, the local language.  For those who are wondering, we talked about Gen. 32 and Jacob wrestling with God.  My 3 points were

1.  I need to know myself (admit who I am so God can change "my name")

2.  I need to know who God is (that He has good purposes in everything, so I need to hold on for the blessing instead of just "getting through" any difficult situation)

3.  I need to live changed.  (like Jacob when he walked with a limp for the rest of his days)

It was a great day and a fun time with the kiddos who showed up.  This area has 160 identified children.  20 are total orphans, approx 80 are half orphans and the rest are vulnerable children. . .many of whom have parents with hiv or alcoholic fathers.  The church has a "hope team" that ministers to these kids and is so excited about the possibility of having resources to continue their ministry!  The church will allow a care point on their land AND they already have clean water nearby!  It will be such a sweet spot for a church. . .maybe one of the ones represented here. . or maybe yours!  Email me if you are interested in any of these sites! (Brandi @ KidsLake.org).

PHOTOS from Uganda!

Ria is an AMAZING photographer!!!  Check out her pictures from our first 3 days!  She published them on facebook

Day 1: Rapha and Pastor John's Orphanage

Day 2: Nabakalu

Day 3: Bukedea (not finished, but check back later)  

Isn't she awesome????  PS I know I'm blogging a ton. . probably annoying some of you who check every few days and now have 15 blogs to read. . .but, well. . .it's therapy for me and I know that at least my parents, Greg and a few of my girlfriends are checking every few hours!

It could have been him. . . .

In the Bukedea District there are over 1,000 orphans identified.  In the sub district of Bukedea Town Center there are 100.  These children are registered by the Teso Widows organization as children who are either single or double orphans, meaning living alone with their widow mother, living as orphans with extended family who are struggling to care for them or even living on their own.  We spoke to the widows and told them we would come for a visit and buy porridge for breakfast and beans and meat for lunch.   We expected a little over 100 children.

526 orphaned children showed up with another 175 village children.  Wow.  Some of them had walked over 8 miles just to get there!  They were packed into the church, singing and waiting for our arrival.  After introductions and explanations of the Teso Widows and all that they do already to care for their communities, we began to serve the porridge.  It was 1 pm and everyone's first meal of the day. . .for some, their first meal in days.  They were thrilled as we passed out the mugs and bowls of porridge.  Porridge is very filling, but do not be fooled, it contains no real nutrients.  It is flour and water.  This is what many families feed their children.  The other meal would not come for hours.  We ran out of porridge before everyone was fed and sent our driver out to buy more food for the next meal.  We spent most of the last 20 minutes passing each other, knowing the porridge was running out and trying to hide our tears.

After spending time with the head of the Household Orphans and hearing their stories (more on that later as one of the girls has an urgent need.  I am waiting for a quote before posting it to give you opportunity to contribute!)  We decided it was time for giving out donations.  This is when we found out that there were over 500 orphans present and we knew we would still be visiting over 850 more children.  The high of knowing we had 1,000 of everything crashed in on us as we realized that we had to make choices.  Literally, we had to choose between a child getting underwear and a toothbrush.  Unfathomable.  Overwhelming. . .

As I watched the children line up for their pair of underwear, my heart felt like it was ripping apart.  I probably should have been excited about the opportunity to give, but I kept picturing Davis.  This could have been my child waiting in line for one pair of underwear and a pencil.  It would have been his life.  How do I come to grips with that?  He has a drawer full of underwear and chooses CARS every time.  He has as many pencils as he wants and an electric Spiderman toothbrush. . .but he was born in an IDP (Internally Displaced People) camp in one of the poorest nations on earth.  If God had not chosen him for our family, he would have been living on the excitement of random white people bringing in donations and handing them out.  My son.  One of the great joys of my life.. . 

And then HE spoke. . .

"These ARE my children.  As you imagine YOUR son and it breaks your heart, know that these are MY children.  "

even now, hours later my tears will not stop.  Once again my glasses are lowered so the girls don't have to watch me sob silently as I type.  

And then, I thought. . . .I often give Brayden large handfuls of treats.  I would easily give him a handful of m&ms without giving the other kids any.  Then, I would say to Brayden, "Share with your brother and sister."

I believe HE's done that with us.  Us, Americans. . . we have been given much and HE has said, "Share with God's People Who Are in Need" (Romans 12:13).  Share with your brothers and sisters. . .to be good sons and daughters and share with our "siblings" / His other kids.   hmmm. . I wonder how well I am doing at that?  I wonder how well WE are doing with that?  Yes, we share, but from here it doesn't look like enough. . .kind of like when I've given Brayden an entire handful of candy to share and I notice that he DID share with Gracie. . .he gave her ONE piece.  ouch

the Loaves and Panties

We finished out the night. . and into this morning. . (it's now 2 am!!!) with sorting donations! We emptied all our suitcases and sorted the donations into piles. Remember that we were praying for 1000 of each? Well, we never thought we'd get there, especially with underwear. We had kept track very little and finally just decided to collect what we could and check it out once we got here. We had to use this entire living room. We had piles and piles of everything surrounding us! We even took pictures. . .it was so fun. Drumroll please. . . .we are pretty sure that the Lord must have mulitplied these items at some point!

997 Toothbrushes
327 Tubes of Toothpaste + 161 one time toothpaste samples
4548 Pencils + uncounted crayons and markers
1061 pairs of underwear
1 suitcase full of clothes (packed!)
1 suitcase full of shoes

How cool is that? We are so excited to give these away tomorrow!!!! Thanks for giving. You guys are the best!

PS If you haven't read my post from last night, please scroll down. . it's important!

Greater Things have YET to come, Wanna be a part of it?

"You are God of THIS city,

You're the King of these people.

You're the Lord of this nation.

You are. . . .

Greater things have yet to come,

Greater things are still to be done in THIS city.

Greater things have yet to come,

Greater things are still to be done here."

Not only do we sing this song at home in prayer for our cities, but it took on special meaning tonight when we joined together to sing this song for Soroti, Bugiri and Jinja. Will you join with me? Go back and sing quietly to yourself (or loudly!). These areas NEED believers to stand up, take notice and care to drop to their knees for these cities. We had a sweet time together of just crying out to God for the people here. . . .For HIS:
Healing from the wounds of war
To bind the broken hearted
To heal the sick
To protect the vulnerable
To be the Father to the fatherless
To reclaim this city that the enemy has so much power in for the Lord Jesus Christ!!!

Join us in praying for His protection. The witch doctors are very active in these 2 cities. Child Sacrifice is at an all time high with children being abducted from the streets and their heads sold to the witch doctors. This is not a joke. This is not a missionary novel that you read and think happened long ago. These are precious children who need protection. We can battle for them in the heavenlies for God to intercede!!!

The amazing thing is that GREATER THINGS HAVE YET TO COME IN THIS CITY!!!!!!! It is awe-inspiring that He is choosing to use us and our communities to witness this. WE get to be a part of HIS protection for these vulnerable children. Who do you think the witch doctors attack? Those with loving, attentive care givers? NO, the children with no one. Let us be the communities who rise up! Let us be the communities who provide care points that are safe for the little ones in Soroti and loving orphanages and care points in Jinja that are enabled to take on MORE kids because they no longer have to fear where their next meal is coming from. Do you feel that rhythm? Do you hear the beat? I feel this song rising in my chest and I stand amazed that we get to rise up and sing with the host of the heavenlies. . .

GREATER THINGS HAVE YET TO COME,

GREATER THINGS ARE STILL TO BE DONE IN SOROTI.

GREATER THINGS HAVE YET TO COME,

GREATER THINGS ARE STILL TO BE DONE IN JINJA.

THERE IS NO ONE LIKE OUR GOD.

PS Email me if YOUR community would like to rise up for these cities!!!! brandi @ kidslake . org (remove spaces)

Money, Money, Money (sing with me!)

We were able to provide $2500 to Rapha from money you guys sent! They are building a kitchen (mostly. . .just getting it enough done to make it workable and will have to finish it later) and buy supplies to be able to feed all of the children in tha school!!! Note: They were originally going to buy beds, but it is more important to EAT then have your own bed! Oh yeah, we also gave them $100 to provide rice, beans AND MEAT for Tuesday for all the kids! And $100 for Nabakalu to provide the same for our visit later today.

We also worked with Arthur (head of Rapha) and this woman name Rose (she works for an American family here and we are giving her a ride to Soroti). Rose had found 25 double orphans and brought them to an orphanage near Jinja. . .she is later seeing that the orphanage is not taking very good care of the children. . in fact, she is going to Soroti to check on a little girt who is now hospitalized there b/c the orphanage didn't take care of a wound she had that is now septic. So, she has been thinking that she will have to take these orphans in herself. . .now, she is talking to Arthur and Rapha will possibly take some of these children in. If there is a possibility for some people from our church to come in September with Greg, they will have to build another building so that Rapha can take in more of the children!!!!

God is good all the time! Those of you who are on our waiting list, may have kiddos soon!

We also just finished purchasing 150 nets. 43 will go to Pastor John's Ministry that we visited yesterday as well as 8 mattresses. They had NO nets and 8 of their mattresses had been destroyed in a fire. We are also givine Rapha 7 nets for one that had gotten holes in them (we purchased them during our last trip in October). We also bought 100 nets to give away in Soroti as we see needs. We got a GREAT price of 4800 ugx which is only $2.25 per net!!!!!!!

We will probably buy many more as well, as the girls on the trip are thinking they no longer need gifts to bring home or even to eat lunch if we can spend more money on the kids! They are so overwhelmed that if the money we have for our ground fees is not spent we can either meet needs here or have it go back into the Uganda fund. That speaks volumes as to the integrity of HopeChest. I emailed the HopeChest team this morning just to thank them again for being the kind of people and organization that I can brag about and promote without hesitation. . .and for being the kind of people who will love the fact that I just wrote you a super long update b/c I know they (like all of you!) are each praying for us and wish you could be here. Know that your faithful work and giving in the US is what is making this possible. It is eternal, even when it feels mundane!

PS I don't think I'm going to be any better at spending money when I get home. . .knowing the gravity of my $2.25 here and how it can literally SAVE a child's life (remembering that every 30 seconds a child dies of malaria) is so sobering. How easily I throw around that kind of money. . .oh Jesus make me aware of the gifts you have given me. . help me to accept them with thankfulness and not hesitation as well as be a good steward of them. . I'm not so good at living in the tension between the 2.
I love you guys!
Brandi

Rapha baby!

GREAT time at Rapha!  You guys, it is amazing to go back to your sponsored site!!!  I know the money hasn't had time to really start flowing from our sponsorships, so the team with me doesn't get to see first hand the HUGE difference that financial help makes. . .but, I hope  they did get to see the HUGE difference that the relationship makes.

I wish you could have heard Juliette (head teacher) talking to the Rapha kids about our church.  She told them about how we love them and have chosen to sponsor them.  I then got to get up and tell them all about the videos we showed of them and about how Pastor Jon tells stories from being there and how Tom came to our church and all the kids were sponsored in one day.  They kept cheering the whole time.  I told them of how our whole church loved them and prayed for them and how you guys have their pictures in your homes.  I pretty much teared up with the biggest smile on my face the whole time we were there =)  

In fact. . just so you know I was probably pretty annoying to the rest of the team b/c I was like a little child itching to get to Rapha all day!  

It is amazing. . going back to a place that you have fallen in love with.  It is amazing seeing kids, asking their names and then knowing them because of the time you've spent praying for them and talking about them with your church family.  It is amazing knowing that the money you sent is going to make an impact on their lives (we are now thinking they may be building a partial kitchen and kitchen supplies to feed all the kiddos. . .I'll let you know).  

This is what it's all about.  This is just one small reason that getting these orphan points sponsored is so cool.  Not just does it completely change the lives of the children, but coming back to a place like that is pure heaven!  I wish you guys could have been there with me and CAN'T wait for the day when our church takes a trip there!!!!

We ended our time with some serious dancing. . .yes, this white girl shook her booty for about an hour which sent the children tumbling in laughter!  (it's all worth it to see them shake with laughter!)  They also performed a few songs.  This makes you just beam with complete joy!!!!

When they got up and performed as a group, "He knows My Name" I did about lose it though.  don't worry, I have video. . .you'll just have to wait until I get home!  

Love you guys!  Can't wait to blog tomorrow morning about our new possible site that we visited with 32 double orphans (mostly aids related) that was just precious!

Breathe Deep, Life is Good

Ok, THIS is the life. I'm listening to Steven Curtis Chapman while driving to Jinja and twittering. LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

Seriously. . .I'm not sure my heart can contain this. Joseph has a model that I can plug into my computer and get internet on the road. . we are heading into Jinja (crossing the Nile as I type this!), going to meet up for lunch then head to Rapha where I have 52 letters to hand out to 52 children and get to see the flowing water from the new well!!!!! Then, we are heading to a new possible ministry site where we are going to buy mosquito nets for the kids with the money you've sent!!! We have $6800 to spend on needs that we see. Breathe Deep, God is good. I am living in in the center of His goodness right now. . .the ONLY thing that could make this better if you guys were here with me (especially my kids!).

Love you guys

Scared in Uganda

I'm here!  No time to write much b/c it's 1 am here and I haven't slept in days.  Thanks for praying, I've been feeling it already.  We had great seats on the planes, but I didn't get much sleep.  I did enjoy myself though.  . . .

In fact. . .how about joining me?  Since I don't have lots of interesting stories to write about, how about taking the time to click over to amazon and pre purchase your copy of SCARED.  I got a pre-copy from Tom and read it on the plane here.  That's what I spent my whole last flight doing =)

It was AMAZING.  Seriously, a must read.  I don't even want to write more for fear of giving it away.  It was thrilling, captivating, dramatic, engaging, heart wrenching, sob invoking, God speaking, revealing. . . .and so many more things!  Truthfully, I was excited but nervous to read it.  I mean, what would I have said if Tom's first foray into the fiction world was just "so-so"????  Thankfully, it was REALLY good!  You guys know me and I rarely encourage anyone to actually BUY things, especially a book (I'm a library girl, myself).   This is SO worth it though!  Really, go buy a copy.  You're going to LOVE it!  

I can't wait to read it again with you guys!  Really, even if you don't have a huge passion for Africa, but you'd like to learn and be sucked into a great story at the same time, BUY THE BOOK!  Comment on this blog and we'll do a whole blog party about it!  There is so much I want to post about it and my thoughts, wrestling with God and my emotions.. .but not until you've read it.  I feel like I've learned something and been changed by the very reading of this "fiction" novel.  Thank you, Tom.  You pretty much messed me up.

Schedule

Right now: Flying!!!!

Wednesday evening: Arrive in Uganda.
Please pray for the girls to be able to fall into bed fast asleep. They will need this night of rest!

Thursday: Jinja (short visits with various ministries)
Please pray for the girls as they gel together as a unified group of believers.

Friday: Soroti (including Nabakalu which is sponsored by Summit in Naples, FL)
Please pray for the families of the girls back home. There are many husbands and children who are missing mama! By now, the novelty of mama being gone will be worn off. Praise God for the wonderful people helping with the kids! What a blessing it is to the girls in Uganda knowing their kiddos are in excellent hands!

Saturday/Sunday/Monday: Child headed households
Read more about child headed households. This is one organizations opinion. I don't agree with everything they said, nor would Brandi I assume, but it's a good article that will make you think and give you some background info on this crisis.

On a personal note, my son was living in this situation for a time in Uganda. It is real and too common there. I'll never forget when our facilitator said, 'Oh, it's no big deal. That's just how it is there.' As a mama who couldn't get to her son, it was almost unbearable to imagine my little five year old fending for himself.

Please, please, pray for these precious ones!

Tuesday: Jinja (afternoon at Rapha)

Please pray for Arthur and the staff at Rapha as well as the children who they serve. This organization is being sponsored by Brandi's home church, Westwood. What an incredible day!

Wednesday: Various ministry sites, market and fly home

Please pray for the girls as they pack up that they would never forget what they saw, heard, smelled and touched. I am fairly certain the girls will struggle with getting on that plane! They will be excited to see their family and friends, but they will never be the same!

And She's Off!

Brandi just boarded the plane! She is off to Uganda, working with Children's Hope Chest. We've added a clock so you can keep up with her while she is gone. Stay tuned for for the schedule of their trip. Many women traveling together, and lots of little ones to love on when they get there.
So if you have ever wondered, what in the world is she doing now? Follow the schedule, take a look at the clock and you will have an idea.

Praying for ya Bran! Love Ya!

On behalf of the World Traveler,
Jessica

Trip Prayer Requests

Thanks to everyone who has been so encouraging as we lead up to this trip! We are thrilled! There are 10 of us girls traveling together from all across the US. Our desire is to see multiple orphan communities find sponsoring church / city communities! Here are some of our prayer requests. . not in order of importance!

Travel:
1. Flights ~ connections, extra seats for sleeping (huge request), safety
2. Peace for those traveling alone
3. Physical Condition ~ you know how you get run down when you travel? We have to hit the ground running. There are also lots of germs on planes so pray against sickness
4. On the ground travel ~ safety, time, vehicle conditions, drivers, etc

Team:
1. As I said. . .10 women. . .need I say more? hehe, but truthfully!
2. Unity and instant connection
3. Encouraging attitudes that see Jesus in one another and affirm it
4. Pray against the enemy who will try to place us in judgement of one another
5. Pray against the enemy who will try to destroy self worth
**often, women who care deeply about orphan care feel alone in their world. They expect to have instant connection then with a group of women who share their passions. . however, the enemy can use that to make women compare themselves to one another (i.e. she's the better version of me)
6. Peace (in our hearts and amongst us)
7. Lack of gossip
8. Fun!
9. Challenging of one another
10. Excitement of God's Plans
11. Flexibility

Hearts:
1. Open and receptive to the Lords Leading
2. Ready to be plowed and changed
3. CHANGE. . straight from Jesus
4. Purpose for the trip
5. Clarity from the Lord on next steps
6. Discernment about the orphan community to sponsor
7. Extending compassion with dignity

Other:
1. Relationships with on the ground partners and personnel
2. That we would represent the Lord well with ALL we come across
3. That we would be led by the Spirit in all that we do

I'm sure there are another 100 things you could pray over! Add them here and I'll forward them on to the girls. Seriously, we COVET your prayers. More than anything we want HIS plans to proceed and His direction in all that we do. As the leader, you can pray for me to sacrifice my plans and be ready for what God has while still being prepared, for me to be a servant leader yet not think I have to be everything to everyone. does that make sense? Those of you who know me, know my faults in leadership and I know will lift me up. I don't want my sinfulness or self to get in the way of the Lord but want to be changed and used for the Lord all at the same time.