Heart Strings

I got a letter today from one of my sponsored children, Sintayehu. He wrote a sweet letter, and drew me a beautiful picture. The thing that struck me was that when he ended his letter, he closed it with "I love you so much!" I can't tell you how that stirred my heart. This little boy has only met me once, and yet his heart is full of love for me. Words can't describe the love that I feel for this child, but I never really thought about his end of it. Being able to meet Sintayehu, and knowing that in 53 days (but who's counting?!) I'm going to get to see him again has been the most incredible, beautiful part of the whole thing. Sitting with him in his house, being able to pray with him, and knowing that I will soon be able to play alongside him - these are life fulfilling moments, my friends. If I could do nothing else after this trip, I'd be absolutely satisfied. (but I'm grateful that I am able to continue the fight for justice for Sintayehu, Masresha, and Burtukan). (if you are interested in sponsoring a child, go to the Food for the Hungry website)

Holy Smokes

I leave for Zeway in 55 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Funds Info

I received the most recent financial update for my trip today. The current deadline is April 30, of which I had to have $2200 of the total $3740 raised. Based on the email today, I currently have $2,225!!!!! Words can't tell you how excited I am to have met my first deadline. God is showing His faithfulness over and over again with this trip. My next deadline is May 30, and I have to have the full amount of $3,740 raised. Pray with me that funds continue to flow in over the next month - God is good, and I have no doubts that He will provide!

Zeway, Ethiopia

This video was taken while our team was in Zeway last March. We were at a local school, where many of our sponsored children attend. You will see what their classrooms are like, and you'll see a library project that was started, but abandoned when money ran out. A huge thanks to Mark Wagoner, one of our team members, for creating and letting me share this video!

True Desires

God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served

Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God

You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord (x4)

Acting humbly
Loving mercy
We must go, we must go
To the broken
And the hurting
We must go, we must go

We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go

- God of Justice, Tim Hughes

Prayers

God has really put it on my heart to pray diligently for the government in Ethiopia. Join me in praying that their eyes would be opened to see Jesus, and that the people of Ethiopia would no longer live in oppression because of governmental powers and controls that are being mis-used. I believe that big things can happen in the highest offices of this country, because I believe in the God who can do it.

Artful Worship

I love when worship and prayer takes on unique, beautiful forms.

Isaiah 6:3

As I was flipping through my journal from last year, I came across some notes I jotted down from the gathering one night. As I read through them a few minutes ago, I was reminded of the truth of these words, and of their importance in my life. I'm not sure if these are my words, or if they are exactly how my friend Isaac said them, but either way, it's good stuff.

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty! The whole earth is full of His glory." - Isaiah 6:3

There is no one like Him - in His beauty, in His mercy, in His love, in His grace, in His kindness, in His glory, in His...God's actions of purifying Isaiah has been extended to us in the death of Jesus. He has touched us in the place of our guilt, saying "see? your guilt has been removed, your sins are forgiven." We have a beautiful, new-found innocence in the cross of Christ. Find and receive this innocence. We will not let our brokeness keep us down...Rise to Thee!

Deadlines

My first fundraising deadline is quickly approaching. By April 30, I have to have a minimum of $2,200 raised. I'm currently sitting at $1,500. Join me in praying that over the next 3 weeks, $700 comes in!