Sweet blessings

A few weeks ago, we received a little box in the mail.  What was in it?  This.

 

As Sydney brought it to me, I read this note……

 

we are in the beginning stages of adopting from Ghana, so when I got these in the mail after our baby was born, I decided to seek out a way to get them to Ghanaian babies because, who knows, one day one of the babies who drinks this may become my son or daughter!  Thank you for your ministry!

 

A sweet, sweet blessing in the shape of infant formula was such an encouragement to us and will help little ones grow stronger and stronger!!! Many blessings to each of you that fight with us to reach God’s little ones!!

 

 

 

 

“Forgetting the Frock”

So many people joined us this Easter in raising orphan awareness and providing food, water and medicine to children in need by skipping the fancy Easter dresses (like I wore as a child) for orphan shirts.  Here is just one youth group that was challenged.

Here’s the letter they received from their youth minister:

“Lindsay spoke to our students last night and in the course of her message she was sharing what God has been laying on her heart. She spoke of a challenge that one of her friends extended to her. It deals with Easter Sunday. On Easter, many of us have our traditions whether it be an egg hunt, easter basket, family dinner, etc. Perhaps the biggest tradition is getting an outfit to wear to church on Easter Sunday. Let me be clear, there isn’t anything wrong with those things. However, this year the Prather family has accepted the challenge to Forget the Frock. We are forgoing our “Easter outfits” for orphans. 

Several years back, a 7 year old girl wanted to do something for orphans. She made t-shirts and sold them. Her goal was to raise $500 to feed orphans. She exceeded her goal and went to Africa with her parents to accomplish her vision. Since then she has led her family with God’s guidance to start Feeding the Orphans. Check the website and read Sydney’s story “(www.feedingtheorphans.com).”
Many accepted that challenge among this group and this is what it looked like on Easter morning.  Thank you for being such an incredible blessing to God’s children!!!
 

I am forever changed

Two years ago today I said “WHY SHOULD WE EAT LIKE KINGS AND QUEENS WHEN THEY HAVE NOTHING?”.  It has forever changed me and I am so glad.  I have been to Ghana 4 times and have wonderful, amazing memories of Ghana. I saw so many things that I will never forget.  I had the privilege of loving orphans. I remember when the kids at one of the orphanages sang a song to me the day we were leaving Ghana.  I will never forget the little helpless eyes staring at mine.  My heart was broken as they sang to me.   I thought who knows what they’ve been through???  Who knows how much they’ve suffered???  Who knows if anyone has ever loved them or told them “I love you”.  Who knows if they’ve ever been hugged or kissed.  Every child should hear the words “I love you” and every child should be loved.  I remember playing “tickle” with the orphans.  They would sneak up, tickle me, and run. Then I would tickle them.   I remember playing tag and soccer.  It was all so much fun.  I remember going to church with them.  I remember singing and dancing with them.  I will never forget the moments I spent with the orphans.  I will treasure them forever.  Ghana will always feel like my “home” even though I live here.

Click THIS IS HOME to watch a video I put together this week.

How can you help us help the orphans?  SPONSOR A CHILD, shop at the STORE, or DONATE to help us build a “Safe House” for 18 fishing slaves (we still need $14,000 ASAP).  There are so many things you can do to help.  I know you can do just ONE thing to help these kids.  I know you can give up just ONE thing to save a child’s life.  I challenge you to make a difference today in the life of ONE.

The face of a child

What does the face of a child slave look like?  Just like any other child.

 

We met this very special young man about 18 months ago.  He captured my heart from the first minute I laid eyes upon him.  My 3 year old, Aiden, became crazy about him.  I watched DK chase him around the courtyard, both of them giggling constantly.  I watched them play when they could not speak the same language.  I listened to DK’s story and how he had been rescued just a couple of months before.  And my heart broke.  It broke for the life DK had led, for the suffering he had endured.  Then, as I looked at him, I thanked God for rescuing him, for breaking the hearts of Johnbull and Stacy for child fishing slaves on Lake Volta, for the way He introduced us at the mall and for sending Jesus to this earth so we may have a better life.  I realized then that God had given DK a family.  Yes, that’s right. A FAMILY.  He would be safe now.  Protected.  No longer beaten or starved.  No more diving for fishing nets.  He would learn that he is a son of a Heavenly Father by living at City of Refuge Ministries as a child of Johnbull and Stacy.

And here is DK now.  A child of God.

The truth is there are approximately 7,000 more “DKs” living on Lake Volta RIGHT NOW.  Right this minute.  Living a life no person, let alone a child, should have to live.  You can make a difference for them.

The children of City of Refuge are playing their part.  They lived that life and are now FREE, a part of a family.  And they are making bracelets for us to sell to help build a SAFE HOUSE.

 

 

So, it’s that simple.  Click STORE to purchase yours today and let it be a reminder of the suffering and the redemption. Let it be a reminder to pray and advocate for the children living in slavery around the world today.  And be reminded that a child made it to help another child.

 

 

 

 

Let it be a reminder of the children who have been rescued and for the ones longing to be.

 

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to the SAFE HOUSE, please click DONATE.

HELP BE A PART OF BUILDING A HOME FOR 18 CHILD FISHING SLAVES.  

Africa on my heart

Another guest post:  Rebekah Vanderford heard God calling her to GO love on the orphans and she did just that.  She left mid-January for a month and lived in one of the orphanages we partner with.  Her life will be forever changed.  

 

Volunteering with Feeding the Orphans was such a wonderful experience. God placed the orphans in Africa on my heart many years ago, and in January, He allowed me to go! I spent a month in Ghana, and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life.

Before we left, I asked Kristie what the main purpose of the trip was, and she said “basically, you’re going to be mommy to 35 kids.” I thought, “I’m just 18, I can’t be a mommy to 35 kids!” But sure enough, that’s what I did. Most days were spent laughing, singing, cleaning cuts and putting on bandages, playing, braiding hair, bathing the kids with buckets, and kissing them goodnight. God gave me a greater love for these kids than I could ever muster up on my own, and I miss them dearly.

It was hard to leave everything I’ve ever known, but God assured me it was going to be worth it. And it was. People told me I was a blessing, but they blessed me far more than I blessed them. God used them to work in my heart, and to show me just a glimpse of how wonderful He truly is.

My favorite day of the week was Sunday. We started the day off with church, gathering into a small room, singing praises to our Marvelous King. It brought me such joy to see the kids singing and dancing for their Maker. These kids don’t have very much, but they definitely have joy. After church, we went to the beach. Taking 35 kids to the beach can be pretty crazy, but we all enjoyed it. After we got home from an afternoon of rolling in the sand and splashing in the waves, it was time to bathe those incredibly sandy children. In America, with running water and a bathtub, that doesn’t sound too intimidating. We had two buckets. One to stand in, and one that held water. It’s safe to say I count many, many more blessings than I did before this trip.

Our shower was a bucket, our washing machine was our hands, and the dryer was a clothes line. Water from the faucet, when it ran one or two days a week, was not safe to drink. But it did leak from the ceiling, and flooded our room. Although the comforts and familiarity of American life were gone, God’s blessings continued to fall on us every day. He was there in that orphanage, and He loves those children more than you could ever imagine. And He is good!

147 million orphans is an extremely overwhelming number, and it breaks my heart to know that 147 million children go to bed each night alone, unloved, hungry, and forgotten. One thing God taught me through this experience was that I can’t rescue people. I wanted so badly to rescue the abandoned, the hopeless, the unloved, the fatherless, but God has been showing me that He is the rescuer. There’s no way we can rescue 147 million orphans on our own, but with God all things are possible.

Africa holds a very special place in my heart, and I’m praying God allows me to go back soon. In Mark 16:15, Jesus said “Go into all the world and preach the gospel.” I encourage you to fulfill this command He has given us. 

Jesus uses 50/50 blend

Guest post featuring a sweet friend, Emily Fox, living out her life in central Kentucky as she and her husband challenge others to follow Jesus while shepherding Living Grace Church.  Thank you to each of you that “Forgot the Frock” this year!!  Once again, we are amazed at God’s hand and His willing servants!!  You can click HERE to see a few pics from Easter Sunday!!

 

Just over a year ago I begged God for something…

 

We had just returned home from dinner at a local Tex-Mex dive where Jay and I had poured our hearts out to some dear friends… frustrated with where we were in our ministry, confused and not knowing what God was asking us to do, we met up with our friends to seek advice. We were convinced that (like all those who once called themselves Texans) the answer would surely be discovered over an order of chips and salsa…

 

It wasn’t. Our friends, although understanding and supportive, couldn’t give us the answers we needed.

 

So that night… in the quiet of our little office, I vented… I put pen to paper and scrawled all over that poor little prayer journal. So frustrated I nearly tore the paper as I pushed hard with my little gel pen.

 

I begged God for understanding, for a purpose. I poured out the desire of my heart… here it is… on the top of that cute little pink spiral notebook…

 

“Lord, I want to help make an impact… do something… I want to truly help the least of these and I am anxiously awaiting those opportunities…” –March 10, 2011

 

14 days later God would smother me with conviction and I again would put pen to paper and write a little ditty on a blog called 5millionminus1 about throwing tradition out the window and challenge people to exchange our Southern tradition of  “Easter Dresses” for a more meaningful attire… “Forget the Frock” I would call it. Thinking in all honesty that a few people may read it… and my friends would know why my kids showed up to church on Easter morning sporting T-shirts.

 

Little did I know God had been orchestrating this story for more than 11 years… You see 11 years ago he let me hold this precious little baby named Sydney so that when I heard her story 11 years later it would mean something… 10 years ago he would put an unlikely Best Friend in my life and 3 years ago he would call that same friend to adopt… so that the plight of the orphan became REAL and it had a name…Tedi. Finally 1 year ago… he heard my plea and allowed me to part of an amazing story.

 

That night when I begged God for a chance to get my hands dirty… to serve the least…while I had visions of serving on a short-term missions trip or feeding the homeless or volunteering with local elementary schools… God was writing a story so much cooler than anything I could have created on my own. A story that would give him ALL the GLORY.

 

The storyline… T-shirts.

 

Oh… your smiling aren’t you? Isn’t it just like our God to use something as simple as a 50/50 cotton blend piece of material to wreck my world?

 

Friends, as I write this I still can’t believe the numbers… can’t wrap my mind around the fact that “FORGET THE FROCK” has helped that sweet baby girl, who now, by the way, is an amazing young lady, raise nearly $4,000 in 2011 and over $10,000 in 2012.

 

Did you hear that… $10,000!!! All because Jesus is cool and thought he would use a chick who loves to write (that’s me)… people who love Orphans (that’s you)… and one amazing little organization called “FEEDING THE ORPHANS”  to feed some hungry babies.

 

 

God’s Word

Yesterday as we opened the mail, we received a donation in honor of a dear friend’s grandmother that just left this world to join our King in eternity. I was humbled as I read her note.  The donation was to be used by our volunteer in Ghana, Lola, for whatever she needed for Assurance of Hope Orphanage.

This morning when Lola called and we were discussing the donation she told me she wanted to purchase Bibles, God’s word, to give to the older children that she has grown so fond of.  The children she has lived life with for the last 6 months. The children she has come to love as her own. The children she is already grieving over and she still has three months left with them.  Her heart’s desire was to present each child with their own Bible, pray over them and continue to teach them that God is the only true way to live.

 

 

 

One small problem, Bibles are very expensive in Ghana.  I “just happened” to be on an errand with one very special little boy and driving right past a Christian bookstore while talking to Lola. By chance?  No, it was God.

 

Lola told me she would need 25 Bibles so little Bless and I walked in the store.  Sitting right in front was an assortment of them.  Pink, blue, brown, purple.  They were perfect and calling the names of the children in Ghana who for the first time would have their very own Bible.  And the price?  $5 each.  As I read the sign, I was amazed and astounded at God’s goodness, His graciousness, His plan, the way He had laid on Lola’s heart to give each child a Bible and the way He put me near the bookstore when I am rarely in that area.

 

You see, the donation was for $125 and to purchase those 25 Bibles at $5/each ended up being $125.  He is in the little stuff….and the BIG STUFF.  He always has a plan and we just need to heed His call, His nudge.  It started with one person writing a check for an amount, a volunteer in Ghana obeying His whisperings to present Bibles to His precious children and placing me next to that store.

 

So, next week these Bibles will be delivered to 25 children who are fatherless, but will come to know they truly are not fatherless.  Will you join us in praying over each of them that they will see the love of Jesus and they will follow Him in each day when it does not seem to make sense?  Pray  for these orphans as they seek their Heavenly Father.

 

John 8:12 – When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to help us purchase more Bibles to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, please DONATE here.

 

Is slavery gone?

When most of us hear the word SLAVE, we think back to hundreds of years ago. Slavery has been eradicated, right? It is gone. Finished.

WRONG!!!

To so many people living around the world, it is a reality. A life. A life they should not have to live. A life of hopelessness and despair. A life of no way out.

For more than 7,000 children living on Lake Volta in Ghana, West Africa, slavery is real.

They are fishing slaves. Forced to work longer hours than most men in the world today. Left to sleep in canoes with no shelter. Beaten because they do not catch enough fish when there isn’t any to catch. Given just enough food to eat to keep them alive. The list goes on and on. These children are leading a life no one should ever live and you can help us make a difference.

When I close my eyes and imagine this, I am moved to tears. My heart is broken. And I want to fight harder. Harder to make a difference in the life of ONE.

Some may ask how can you make a difference? There are so many to help and the need seems so overwhelming. You are right, the need is great. There are MANY, but you can make a difference in the life of ONE child slave. You can help Feeding the Orphans complete a SAFE HOUSE for 20 fishing slaves. Children who will be rescued at the end of May or early June. Rescued from a life of SLAVERY. Rescued from a life of despair and given HOPE. Given LOVE. Given a FAMILY who will cherish them.

We have partnered with an amazing organization, City of Refuge Ministries, and the walls are now complete on the Safe House. The remaining total is approximately $24,000 to complete it. They are planning to rescue these 20 children at the end of May or beginning of June so we need to act fast to get it ready for the kids. We are challenging everyone to share this post, share this tragedy and pray for the millions of slaves living around the world. Lastly, we are asking you DONATE to saving the lives of these precious children TODAY. Won’t you join us? (All donations are tax deductible.)

Proverbs 31:8 – Speak up for those who have no voice.

fundraiser ideas

Free fundraiser
thermometer

for your original fundraisers

What can you do?

You see this little face?

 

This precious little boy was so small and malnourished when he came to the orphanage, but he has grown so much by God’s glory!!!

20 pounds in 4 months!!  Only God can do that!  A huge thank you to the family that stepped up to sponsor this little guy and his sister every month and to our partners in country, Greg and Sam Elam, for loving God’s children!!!

YOU can make a difference in a child’s life!!!  Click SPONSOR A CHILD to help today!!

GO…..March 2012`

The GO mission team made it to Ghana and is loving it!!!  They have had two full days in Ghana and I don’t think their gonna want to come home.

Doing crafts with the kids of AOH

Two kids with their crafts

Having fun with the kids

William

 

Two new kids