Have you ever experienced something so great, so incredible that one of the first things you think to yourself is "I've got to share this with someone!"
I just asked my husband this question and his reply was:
"The meatloaf at Farmer's Gastropub! in Springfield, MO. It's FANTASTIC!"
and "Oh yes, my first espresso at Coffee Ethic, also in Springfield. It's divine, you need to try it!
and Skydiving!"
Well that crazy husband of mine is one of kind. I adore him, in all his strangeness. This November 8th will be our 9th Wedding anniversary. It seems like I've been in love with him for so long that I can't remember what life was like without him & that is a blessing!
Well, I'm so excited to say that during our anniversary this year we will be in
... Africa, ... together!
I knew after my first day in Sierra Leone that I wanted to someday be able to share it with him: this amazing country and its beautiful people. God has crazy blessed my life! I feel humbled by the outpouring of grace and love the Lord lavishes on me.
Please be in prayer for this trip, that the Lord would bless it and our time there. That every detail will be taken care of and our four young children would be safe and well loved while we are gone. I will be sharing more details soon. I can't wait to get back to Africa and love on those people! and to be able to be there with my best friend!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Sierra Dolls
Before I left for Sierra Leone I made a few dolls
for some beloved people who helped send me on this life changing trip. For some of their young daughters I made a doll named Sierra, as a reminder to pray for the little girls of this country. And for the little girls of Sierra Leone, I made dolls who were named for the wonderful families and generous friends who 
gave me the chance to meet and love on these precious little girls. When I tuck my daughter Isabel in at night and see her hug her doll named Sierra, I think about these sweet faces. I wasn't able to get a picture of every little girl who I have a doll to, but I pray for all of them, that they would receive a loving hug when they need comfort even if its only from a doll. I pray they will know someone loves them and cares for them. And that one day they will come to the knowledge that there is only one we can truly hold on to.
gave me the chance to meet and love on these precious little girls. When I tuck my daughter Isabel in at night and see her hug her doll named Sierra, I think about these sweet faces. I wasn't able to get a picture of every little girl who I have a doll to, but I pray for all of them, that they would receive a loving hug when they need comfort even if its only from a doll. I pray they will know someone loves them and cares for them. And that one day they will come to the knowledge that there is only one we can truly hold on to. One who will never leave or turn their back on them, it is the Lord.
Reality in Sierra Leone may mean that only some of the girls got to keep their doll. It could have been stolen, taken and sold for food or lost. Funny thing about gifts, once you gift it... it's no longer yours. Actually, when you consider that everything is the Lord's, it wasn't even yours in the first place, you were just caring for it, for a time. You don't get to be the boss of how it is accepted, loved, used or kept. The Lord knows the answers to all of our how's, where's and why's, all we need to do is trust, 
be obedient and give when He 
says to. And if these little dolls fulfilled their purpose in being placed in the hands of these little girls (no matter what the bigger plan was) I am so grateful for the chance I was given to give them. My heart does hope, that most of the girls get to have her to hug on when they need one. I can't imagine life for a little girl living in the hardest parts of this country. I made a video dedicated to the lovely little girls and women of Sierra Leone. If you haven't seen it yet, and would like to, it is in my video tab or you can click this link: (if you can find the time to watch and listen please do, I feel it says what my words cannot)
Life is a gift.
I gave baby doll Shelby to precious baby Rebecca. Baby Rebecca was born and orphaned while I was in Sierra Leone. I held this sweet gift on Mothers Day this year. And she returned to the Lord a few weeks ago. My heart broke when I heard the news. I remember holding her, laying my hand on her sweet little head whispering a prayer over her. I thanked the Lord for her sweet life. And I still do. Sweet baby Rebecca had a short but loved life here on earth. Her story has impacted mine and now, she has impacted yours.
I haven't been able to watch the video I had made since her death, until today. My heart longs for hope for these beautiful children.
My husband & I were talking about death this weekend and he said this to me:
"We are all just a pile of dry bones without the breath of God."
I feel like I take so much for granted, forgetting to thank Him for His Breath.
Everyday, every person, every moment is a gift.
(I'll leave you with my thought from above)
Funny thing about gifts, once you gift it... it's no longer yours. Actually, when you consider that everything is the Lord's, it wasn't even yours in the first place, you were just caring for it, for a time. You don't get to be the boss of how it is accepted, loved, used or kept. The Lord knows the answers to all of our how's, where's and why's, all we need to do is trust, be obedient and give when He says to.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Meeting Mohamed
They tell you that you can change the life of a child by sponsoring them with just your pocket change, but the truth is sponsoring this child has changed mine. 
When I received my packet of information about this child, it came with a picture of him with a very serious face. I like this one a lot better! My paper work told me his name, how he became orphaned and that for just a $1.23 a day I could provide sufficient food and medical care needed for survival and clothing & everything he needs to attend school. Hard to believe isn't it! I was excited about helping this child and that he would become important to my family, but the words on that sheet of paper didn't have any reality or breath to me, until May 10, 2011 when I met this sweet child for the first time.
Becky (one of the amazing Missionaries we came to serve along side-her blog is listed my blog list on the right) informed me that my sponsored child lived quite a distance from where we were located and how much it would cost for the Pastor to bring him to meet me. I instantly I felt guilty about having him come, my first thought was to just send the family pictures and few gifts I had brought for him with the money we would spend on travel so that it could bless the family taking care of him. After some prayer and heart searching I just felt like the Lord said "Relationship" relationships are what its all about. Becky graciously made the plans for him to come and met us. I am SO grateful! and SO glad we got the chance to meet. What a wonderful opportunity it was to meet this wonderful child!
Little Mohamed and Pastor Sahr came late that Tuesday morning after traveling almost 5 hours one way, public transport. Wow! I still can't believe it. He was wearing the same shirt he had on, in the picture that was sent to me with his packet, no doubt the best shirt he had. As I hugged his neck for the first time I could see all the holes and tears on the collar that you can't see from the front. I wonder what that poor child was thinking with this crazy woman hugging him to death! (Have I mentioned that 'crazy' in creole sounds like Chris). We sat down at the table and fed them, after all they had been on the road a very long time. At first I spoke mostly to Pastor, asking him questions while they both ate. When he was almost done eating I gave him a couple cookies for dessert, but he was more interested in the fresh pineapple. Pastor told me that further in country were they live Pineapple is expensive and more of a luxury, that it was maybe only the 4th or 5th time all year that he himself has had some, so little Mohamed might have not had any at all. Well, he ate every bite and pocketed the cookies for later!
He showed me how he could write by copying an information sheet about himself that the pastor had. He enjoyed writing for me, although he couldn't read all of what he was writing. He said math was his favorite in school and he then started writing out some math problems for me to solve (now, I'm sure all my close friends are wondering if I could do them, HA!) I did, and he checked my work with a check mark & a "very good" just like the teacher does at his school, so funny! I asked "what else he liked?" I wanted to get as much info as I could about who he was and what he like to do-- as much as I could learn. Pastor asked him and he said he liked motorbikes, I was so excited. Little did this child know that my boys had picked out and sent two little motorcycle toys for him to take home. I said "Oh, I have something for you!" and went into the other room to get them. As I type this, I can't stop crying! How amazing it is, that the Lord had that little blessing in His plans.
Pastor Sahr & his wife care for over 20 orphans in their own home awaiting caretaker families.
I showed him where Missouri was on this globe, Jefferson City was even marked on it! And I drew a line with my finger to show him how I traveled to come see him.
We went outside to visit & play. I told him each of our names, pointing to our family pictures that I brought for him and that we think of him as family, pray for him everyday, that we love him and that God loves him more! Before he left, he called me Mama Chris which is how I introduced us in the pictures - Mama Chris, Papa Justin, Zeke, Gideon, Levi, & little sister Isabel (now that could translate to Crazy Mama I guess, and he probably thought I was crazy -I'm sure he hadn't been hugged on so much in years!) I don't know who may be reading this, but if you know me at all; you know I would bring this precious boy (and his little brother) home with me in a heartbeat. As of right now, I can't but I can help him this way. For the cost of eating out at our favorite restaurant on a Sunday afternoon we can make sure that this boy is given the chance to have a bright future. Now, for us is that even a sacrifice? It is so WORTH it! Every penny, even if it was my last one.
When I received my packet of information about this child, it came with a picture of him with a very serious face. I like this one a lot better! My paper work told me his name, how he became orphaned and that for just a $1.23 a day I could provide sufficient food and medical care needed for survival and clothing & everything he needs to attend school. Hard to believe isn't it! I was excited about helping this child and that he would become important to my family, but the words on that sheet of paper didn't have any reality or breath to me, until May 10, 2011 when I met this sweet child for the first time.Becky (one of the amazing Missionaries we came to serve along side-her blog is listed my blog list on the right) informed me that my sponsored child lived quite a distance from where we were located and how much it would cost for the Pastor to bring him to meet me. I instantly I felt guilty about having him come, my first thought was to just send the family pictures and few gifts I had brought for him with the money we would spend on travel so that it could bless the family taking care of him. After some prayer and heart searching I just felt like the Lord said "Relationship" relationships are what its all about. Becky graciously made the plans for him to come and met us. I am SO grateful! and SO glad we got the chance to meet. What a wonderful opportunity it was to meet this wonderful child!
Little Mohamed and Pastor Sahr came late that Tuesday morning after traveling almost 5 hours one way, public transport. Wow! I still can't believe it. He was wearing the same shirt he had on, in the picture that was sent to me with his packet, no doubt the best shirt he had. As I hugged his neck for the first time I could see all the holes and tears on the collar that you can't see from the front. I wonder what that poor child was thinking with this crazy woman hugging him to death! (Have I mentioned that 'crazy' in creole sounds like Chris). We sat down at the table and fed them, after all they had been on the road a very long time. At first I spoke mostly to Pastor, asking him questions while they both ate. When he was almost done eating I gave him a couple cookies for dessert, but he was more interested in the fresh pineapple. Pastor told me that further in country were they live Pineapple is expensive and more of a luxury, that it was maybe only the 4th or 5th time all year that he himself has had some, so little Mohamed might have not had any at all. Well, he ate every bite and pocketed the cookies for later!
His parents died in an accident over two years ago, he and his little brother live together with his Auntie (a friend of their mother's). She has two of her own children but somehow cares for two more. They all live in one room, of a 7 room house with 6 other families. There is a well they get to share, and his auntie sells water for money for them to survive.
He showed me how he could write by copying an information sheet about himself that the pastor had. He enjoyed writing for me, although he couldn't read all of what he was writing. He said math was his favorite in school and he then started writing out some math problems for me to solve (now, I'm sure all my close friends are wondering if I could do them, HA!) I did, and he checked my work with a check mark & a "very good" just like the teacher does at his school, so funny! I asked "what else he liked?" I wanted to get as much info as I could about who he was and what he like to do-- as much as I could learn. Pastor asked him and he said he liked motorbikes, I was so excited. Little did this child know that my boys had picked out and sent two little motorcycle toys for him to take home. I said "Oh, I have something for you!" and went into the other room to get them. As I type this, I can't stop crying! How amazing it is, that the Lord had that little blessing in His plans.His smile is amazing and he would answer my questions with the raise of his eyebrows, so cute! He had no problem learning how to use my itouch and take pictures with my camera. He loved taking his own pictures! He took these below.
Pastor Sahr & his wife care for over 20 orphans in their own home awaiting caretaker families.I showed him where Missouri was on this globe, Jefferson City was even marked on it! And I drew a line with my finger to show him how I traveled to come see him.
We went outside to visit & play. I told him each of our names, pointing to our family pictures that I brought for him and that we think of him as family, pray for him everyday, that we love him and that God loves him more! Before he left, he called me Mama Chris which is how I introduced us in the pictures - Mama Chris, Papa Justin, Zeke, Gideon, Levi, & little sister Isabel (now that could translate to Crazy Mama I guess, and he probably thought I was crazy -I'm sure he hadn't been hugged on so much in years!) I don't know who may be reading this, but if you know me at all; you know I would bring this precious boy (and his little brother) home with me in a heartbeat. As of right now, I can't but I can help him this way. For the cost of eating out at our favorite restaurant on a Sunday afternoon we can make sure that this boy is given the chance to have a bright future. Now, for us is that even a sacrifice? It is so WORTH it! Every penny, even if it was my last one.
We were able to send home with him and Pastor snacks for their long journey home and a small bag of goodies (clothes, underwear, socks, jump rope & frisbee) for him, his brother and the giving family who cares for them both. He instantly took off his "nice" tennis shoes and put on the flip flops I gave him. I was also able to send money so that Pastor could buy the family a bag of rice (that will help feed them for a month).
Before leaving for Africa my awesome husband helped our children put their hand prints in my journal. This is where I kept my thoughts, happenings and prayers during my trip. I showed Mohamed all four of my children's hand prints and then we added his hand to the page where I wrote about our day together. He wrote his name at the top. I might not have had pretty paints like my husband did, but Mohamed's page is just as beautiful to me as the rest.
If you have ever considered orphan sponsorship, or feel like its something you might be interested in, I encourage you to check into it. You don't have to fly across the world to change the life of a child. With what we consider a very small amount of money you can make a huge difference in the life of someone who desperately needs it. A letter and a picture of a person who wants to help them thrive, will leave an amazing smile on the face of a child and a lasting knowledge in their heart that they have value and that there is someone out who cares.
We sponsor Mohamed through http://restorehopeproject.org/orphan_family_care.html
There are children right now waiting for a sponsor.
Maybe one is waiting ... for you.
Mohamed waving Hi!Maybe one is waiting ... for you.
Funny story: Right before he left that day, Ms. Becky gave him something and he didn't say anything in return, I tapped him on the shoulder and said "you say tankee" (which is how they say thank you). Pastor Sahr thought that was so funny. I told him, "Sorry, I can't help it. I'm a Mama".
I started the post on the date at the top, and just finished it today July 12th, 2011. I can't figure out how to change the date (sorry this took me so long to finish! Bless you for reading!)
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