Luke's Easter (and more)

These pictures were taken today in China (well really last night) from Luke's home, Shepherd's Field Children's Village.

Isn't Luke getting more and more handsome as the days go by? Still praying for a miracle to happen with his adoption paperwork and his heart.

Jesus died and rose again 3 days later! (What other God has done that? None!!!)

So I think (NO I know) I can trust in Him to do this!!!

I'm praying and believing something will happen by September! That's 5 months away! Either Luke's paperwork will be completed and he will be adoptable, his heart is healed, and/or both!!!

Once I leave for Wisconsin in September I am not sure if I'll be able to continue the sponsorship payments for Luke. If God provides, or course I will still sponsor him, but if that doesn't happen, I am hoping that someone will take over that for me. If anyone is interested, please let me know!

Prayers Needed!

I've known for a little while now that the situation with my sponsor child, Luke (at SFCV) was serious. He will be 5 next month, his orphanage is not willing to do his adoption paperwork, therefore he is not available for adoption. He is in need of a heart surgery very soon, (he has a SV) but will not be able to get it done in China.

But today I heard from an adoptive mom, that just got back from adopting a little boy (Zachariah) at SFCV, that Luke did not look good. His lips were very blue, and she was talking to the doctor there about his need for surgery. She said that her son has the same heart problem and knows that they are hard to place in families. It hurt her to see Luke there without a family.

This really breaks my heart!!!! If it were possible, I'd fly there now and bring little Luke home with me, and get him the surgery he needed! But in this imperfect world, that is not possible, for many reasons!

What is possible though is OUR GOD!! With Him all things are possible!!

Please, please, please join me in praying for Luke!

Pray that:

1.) His orphanage will have a change of heart and see the best interest of the children to sign the needed papers and allow Luke to be adopted (after his family finds him, of course).

{*this is the best case scenario, which will allow him to have a forever family, and get his much needed heart surgery in another part of the world.}

Or...

2.) That the opportunity will come up for Luke to have surgery in China. (I'm not sure what that would involve, maybe, the right surgeon or the medical funds?)

Or...

3.) That God will heal Luke's heart!



I know God can do any or ALL of these things!! I have no doubt!!

Please join me in praying and spreading the word about sweet Luke!

Thank you!

Here's a short video clip of Luke and his housemates. Luke is the one in the red sweater. :)

I miss...

AFRICA!!

Of course, who wouldn't! 

Bradly and I during a church service in Uganda

2012 To Do List

So, my friend, Hayley Catt, had a really great idea to create a To Do List for 2012. It's a list of things you hope to get done this year. I really liked the idea so I'm posting mine own here. 

In 2012 I hope to: 

1. Draw closer to my Creator than ever before.

2. Love others more. 

3. Make more time for crafts.

4. Read more books.

5. Spend less. Give more. 

6. Take a road trip. 

7. Meet (and love on) a child in another country.

8. Play more board games with my family.

9. Take more pictures. 

10. Get a new pair of TOMS.

11. More sister dates with my only sister. 

12. Serve others more.

13. Spend more time with my friends. 

14. At least one long walk on the beach. 

15. Watch more sunrises.

So, now it's your turn? What is your 2012 To Do List? 

Missing It...

"Though you may leave Africa, Africa will never leave you. It's a very specific relationship that way, one endlessly rich in its specificity." 

It's Cyber Monday!

I'm extending the Black Friday sale through today for Cyber Monday! 


As you know I've started a fundraiser to raise funds for my Training with YWAM next fall. And I have some awesome handmade items for sale. 

                 Check out my last post or my fb photo album to look through all the items for sale. 

*Cyber Monday Deal*

25% off any one item

*Offer is only valid through midnight tonight. Only for followers! (If you are not one yet, you can do so). Message me (or leave a comment) letting me know what items you want and which one you want the deal on. Once you get a confirmation message back from me, you can purchase it. Payment is through paypal (you will see my paypal button at the top of this page). 

Thanks!! 

I Heart Faces

Photo Challenge// Black

http://www.iheartfaces.com/

3 Years Old!!

Tristan (my sponsor child) was born 3 years ago, today (we think). He lives in China (Shephard's Field), with about 100 other SN orphans, while he waits for his adoption to be finalized. 

It's amazing to see how far Tristan has come!!

Here he is at 1 year

Here he is at his second birthday party!

I've heard he loves to eat!

But, his favorite is cake!

So, Tristan I hope you get lots of cake at your birthday party, continually show off your amazing smile, and have a fun time with all your friends. 

Today I made you a cupcake and had a little party for you. 

I hope you know you are loved, and that you have changed my life, in an amazing way! I think of you daily and pray that you grow up to be an incredible man of God. Of course I'm also praying that you get here soon! I can not wait to meet you face to face someday!

There's only one thing left to say: Happy Birthday Tristan!!!

"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

-Psalms 139:16

*I've decided to take a day off from the Crazy Love Series, look for Chapter 7 notes tomorrow.

Volunteering for Show Hope, Concert, and Backstage Meet-up

On October 14th my sister and I went to stay with the Mestas family. My dear friend, Ellie is the one who invited me to go to Uganda, so it was great getting to see her again. That night we all went to volunteer for Show Hope at "A Night with the Chapman's". It was so incredible to get to volunteer for this amazing organization and see first hand how God is using them. 

Here I am at the Show Hope booth.

Here are some of the sponsorship packets and Mary Beth's new book (A must read)!

Since we were volunteering we got free passes to the Question & Answer session. It seems like, instead of questions (there were only a couple), a lot of people just shared their stories and thanked the Chapmans for encouraging others to walk by faith even in the toughest of times.

Q&A pass, so thankful we got to sit in on this! 

Steven & Mary Beth Chapman with Geoff Moore at the Q&A.

We were able to watch some parts of the show, and got to hear Mary Beth speak. 

Mary Beth speaking.

Then after the show we were fortunate enough to go backstage with the Mestas family to meet the Chapmans! I totally didn't expect that! We were the only ones allowed backstage! Ellie introduced me to Mary Beth and encouraged me to share my story with her. (Look back at this post for my story). I told her "After I heard about Maria, I started to learn more about your family, and that's how my heart for orphans started." It meant so much to me to get to tell her that, because if it wasn't for their family talking about Maria after her death, than I would probably have never developed a compassion for orphans and this blog would not even exist. Not to mention everything I would have missed out on (Uganda, meeting so many bloggy friends that have similar passions, etc.). My life would be totally different if it weren't for them!

Ellie, me, Kayley, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Kayla.

Getting our picture with Caleb, Will and Mary Beth Chapman.

Will Chapman with 4 of the Mestas brothers.

Us with Julia Chapman (Caleb's wife).

It was an amazing night!

The rest of the weekend we hung out with Ellie and her family. (If you don't know about them please check out their blogs, their adoption stories are very inspiring and just plan amazing!)

Kayla, me, Ellie and Kayley.

3 months ago.....

Exactly 3 months ago today our team was about to board our first flight on our way to Uganda.

 It seems like such a long time ago and the memories are fading more and more everyday. I want to remember every moment about our trip, and I wish that were possible. But, since it isn't I have to keep reminding myself of what I saw, heard and experienced through pictures, videos, and stories from other team members. I'd have to say I learned so much from this experience and I am so very thankful God allowed me to take part in His amazing work!! Now that I have been to Uganda I can say I have seen their hurt, pain, brokenness, poverty, sickness, hopelessness, and loneliness with my own eyes. 

Now it is more real to me and it has CHANGED me!! While we were there we also saw true thankfulness, joy, happiness, and love. The people of Uganda are so different than what we see in America. They understand that God is their provider and he takes care of them, and with that they TOTALLY rely on Him. When any form of hope comes in their life, (weather it be a new well for their village, much needed medication, or some food for their family) they are TRULY thankful, so much so that they may bow down while shaking your hand, and also verbally thank you (many, many, many times). The children of Uganda are so precious and they are constantly full of joy. They were so very thankful for the smallest things (for example: a lollypop). 

Since I have been back several families have gotten in touch with me saying they were matched with some of the sweet babies that we were able to hold, play with, and love on at one of the baby homes. This has been so amazing, I am so thankful these babies will be able to know what it is like to have a family with a mom and dad and even siblings! This has allowed me to see that there was a reason that I felt so attached to the babies at the home, I was able to give some information and pictures to the families about their children, who live on another continent, and who they have been waiting for for so very long. 

This was my first missions trip and first time oversees and I believe it was the best choice I've ever made. It was a HUGE step of faith to say "Yes" to at first, there was a great amount of fear and doubt, and people advising me not to go at all, (but also a ton of positive support) and I couldn't have done it without the courage that God gave me. I can not even tell you how much I miss Uganda and I hope I can return someday!