Shoes for Children and Africa Update

Here is an awesome way to help children all over the world!



Update:
For anyone who is wondering, we did hear back from the Drawn from Water group. Since they are in the beginnings of getting things up and running, they are not sure of all their needs. Right now they are not in need of additional staff, but could definately use prayer and financial support. There is a family from California that is going to help run the orphanage, and another family from Germany that is going to work with the tribe. Their prayer is that within 3-5 years they can eradicate the false beliefs of the tribe relating to "mingi" and return the rescued children to their families.

God is doing an amazing work delivering these children from death and working to free these people from Satan's grasp. We will continue to be in prayer for everyone involved. Who knows what all God has planned, amazing things I'm sure!

God did remind me this week, through His Word, to be careful what I claim as a word from Him. No doubt, God has planned for us to be involved with Drawn from Water, but perhaps not in the way I was thinking. (God even used Sat. morning cartoons to remind me of this! Hillarious!)

Jeremiah 23:38 Although you claim, 'This is the oracle of the LORD,' this is what the LORD says: You used the words, 'This is the oracle of the LORD,' even though I told you that you must not claim, 'This is the oracle of the LORD.'

And as is common around here, Mattie reminded me not to be discouraged. "So...," she said, "I don't care who we work with. It doesn't matter to me."

SO TRUE, So True! From the mouth of babes.....

Anyway we have been in contact with Blessing the Children for a while now. They are opening the 1st phase of their new Adana Education Center in Ethiopia this September. They have been eager to have us work with them from the very beginning, and they now have a financial plan for our family to be career missionaries (meaning 1+ years) with them. They would love to have someone there starting in September of this year, but they are very flexible as far as a start date and commitment length. They have been so encouraging and helpful to us as we seek to follow God's call on our lives.

Right now we are in prayer for a specific answer: when are we supposed to go to Africa? There are a couple of big things that need to happen before we could go: the sell of the business and the sell of our house. Again, right now we are just in prayer about when to take these next steps.

We are also in contact with some "friends of a friend" who just recently moved to Tanzania to start an orphanage and work on teaching sustainability among the natives. You can check out Carson's and Holly's blog to read about their journey.

It is soooo exciting to see all the ways God is at work! We just got word from some friends that God has called them to adopt from Ethiopia! One more precious orphan will be getting a forever family. Every child in a home is an answered prayer! Caring for orphans is definately contagious and has a domino effect.

Thank you God that it only takes 1 person listening to your voice to make a big difference!

YOU are that 1 person! Glory to God for all the people He has used to open our eyes to His heart.