O.C.C. birthday party

A few weeks ago, we were closer to downtown and happened to have a goodie bag in the van that we were able to bless a homeless gentleman with.  L said wouldn't be cool to have a party to make bunches of homeless bags, then she came up with the idea of making them for children in Africa, which led to her idea of creating Operation Christmas Child boxes for her birthday.  She said, she didn't need anything so why not make gifts for others.  Talk about a proud parent moment.

For her tenth birthday, we invited every girl from 3-6th grade from church plus a few of her best friends not from church and several of the girls' big sisters, 17 girls in all came to create boxes.  We had pizza, big sisters did manicures and pedicures, made rainbow loom bracelets for the boxes, jumped on the trampoline, watched an American Girl movie and stuffed 19 boxes to ship to Operation Christmas Child.  

On her actual birthday, Ben and I were unable to take off, which we have always done in the past and when she realized she wouldn't be opening tons of presents, she seemed a little bummed.  But, after the party she did tell me that it was the best thing she had done.  Amen.  Since her party she has collected supplies from other friends, including Connor from Florida.  We are up to 23 boxes to ship to Samaritan's Purse.

prayers needed

We found out today Xai Xai, Mozambique was hit by a tropical storm.  Mission of Mercy has posted the details on their website and I have seen our friends, Mel and Diane on facebook today.  Our two special children, Elsa and Leo are in Xai Xai along with hundreds of other children.  We are praying they are safe, but it will be awhile before we get any word.  Please join us in prayer for this community, Elsa and Leo.  If the roof of the metal church was lifted I cannot imagine the damage to the lean-to homes that are all over this area.

Missions Monday - Christmas at the Care Point

It's time to start Christmas shopping - here is what I want...give $10 for a child to attend the Christmas Parties in Swaziland and Mozambique.

missions Monday

Another state-side mission to send a shot out to - Lorie and her Two50Two team have been nominated for a grant.  All they need are votes.  Please take a minute and vote for her.  She is another Africa junkie like me and took it to another level by coming home and making a difference here in her own community.  She mentors at-risk teens, teens who parents are in prison or teens that have been in prison themselves.  The testimonies she has already witnessed are amazing.

http://lovealocalbusiness.intuit.com/pages/fan?CID=soc_fma_lalb&b_id=223918

missions Monday- Elsa and Leo

These are our two sweet kiddos in XaiXai that we sponsor through Mission of Mercy. We got a progess report on them with new photos. Elsa is in 6th grade now and Leonardo is in 1st.
Dear Lord,
Please keep them protected from all harm. Bless their families with health, food to eat and shelter over their heads. I pray that you teach them in your ways. Help them to grow strong, healthy and wise. I pray they know you and have a desire to know you more each day. Thank you for the mercy center that provides them food and education. Please bless the cooks and the pastors who are there every day to provide for them.  And Lord, if it is your will please provide us with the finances to sponsor more of your children or touch someone's heart to sponsor a child.  In Your name, Amen

my inspiration

Please take 5 minutes and read this post from my friend, Sandra.

http://sandrachesterman.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-inspiration.html

Missions Monday - Grigore

My missionary friends from Romania are coming to the states.  They are asking for prayers for funds to travel and their adopted sons visa to be approved.  I am so excited to see them, she of course wants to love on my kiddos.

Missions Monday - Missionary Kids

Rachel and Matthew have to be two of the bravest kids I know.  They trusted their parents, packed up their bedrooms and left their friends behind to travel half-way across the globe to be missionaries.  I am so proud of these kids.  They are being God's hands and feet.  Soon, the Staubers will be starting a pre-school.  I can only imagine that Rachel will be right there helping teach the little ones every day.  Matthew will be right there beside, ball and stick in hand no doubt.  Please continue to pray for them - protection, wisdom (especially in learning the Portuguese language), and friends.  There are lots of children Matthew's age, but as they get to be Rachel's age (9) they begin to leave the care points to work or care for siblings.  I pray the Lord sends a special friend especially for Rachel.

Missions Monday- Williams Fam

Yes, this post is a day late, was waiting for my pics. 
We were so excited to see my missionary friends, Isaac and Carol at a South African brai (BBQ) this weekend.  They are missionaries to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique.
We spent the entire afternoon catching up with most everyone from our church who has traveled to Africa.  They have two girls, ages 9 and 23 months.  I told our girls we were going to be seeing some friends from Africa, they were a little surprised they were not the same "color" as our Watoto friends. 
Bella and their oldest daughter were playing and Bell got really upset b/c Elena would not answer her, she speaks primarily Portugese and this was her first time being exposed to English.  We had such a great time, but I am missing Africa again and chomping at the bits to hear from God about when Ben and I get to return.  One of my favorite sayings is "once you go to Africa, you will go back in your mind every day for the rest of your life."  Ringing very true for me lately.

Missions Monday - 10 to give 10

You can bring Christmas to a child who has nothing.

Give your $10 to make this Christmas unforgettable for one precious child by clicking here.

I am hoping 10 friends will give $10 to the children of Children's Cup.  PLEASE don't be shy and let me know if you participate. 

Heaven's Gain

Tonight, one of the most inspiring people I know went to be with Jesus after arriving in South Africa to distribute the Tori boxes.  Please be in prayers for my friends, the Oehlerkings.  Dave and his wife Jean, were the founders of Children's Cup.  I acknowledged him one time on his accomplishments and he said point blank, its not me.  It is Jesus, all for his glory.  I know they were planning to be in Africa for a few weeks, so please lift Jean, their kids and all of "his children" up in prayers.  I can personally say that my life was changed because of this man.   Thank you, Mr. Dave.   

Missions Monday - Mission Possible

This coming weekend, is our first fall outreach.  We will be passing out tons of fall clothing including jeans, flannel shirts, jackets and long-sleeved shirts.  I AM IN NEED OF A GREEN or CAMOFLOUGE BLANKET.

Mission Possible is who hosts the church services every Sunday morning.  Church Under the Bridge (CUB) takes place at 7th St and IH-35 on Sunday mornings. You will find live music, testimonies of changes lives, and a down-to-earth message for Austin's street population. Church Under the Bridge is a place where the Body of Christ in Austin can build relationships with those living on the streets. Volunteers at CUB tangibly demonstrate the love of God to others through a corporate worship time, the provision of hot meals, clothing, blankets and sleeping bags. CUB meets every Sunday morning at 7th Street and IH-35 across from the police station. The service starts at 10 a.m.  Lunch is served one time per month at 12:30 p.m.

Missions Monday - Mission of Mercy

Mission of Mercy is an organization that we have been involved with for the past couple of years.  They have been working along side Children's Cup to find sponsorships for the children they feed daily.  For $34, the cost of eating out ONCE you can feed a child, provide medication and the afterschool care needed for a child for an entire month.  Eating out once = feeding a child for a month.
This sweet face belongs to our sponsor child Elsa's little brother, Chelton.  He is up for sponsorship on the Mission of Mercy website.

Mission Mondays - Vio and Estera

I love to share about missions with you.  It is always neat how God puts someone on my heart to share with you and then find out it was at a time in which they needed encouragement.  I got the privelege of meeting Estera & Vio when I was in Romania last fall.  She is SuperWoman, I mean for real, for real Super Woman.  She cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner for our team, then cleaned up, drove us to our outreaches, preached, taught, planned, you name it, and when I got up at 4 a.m. she was in the hall reading her Bible.  She inspired me so greatly that week we were there.  And she is witty too, great blog, but in all honesty I have no idea how she has time to blog, so check back b/c there are times it is weeks before she blogs.  They are in the process of adopting two boys, and have had many bumps along the way.  Please lift them up in prayer for strength, direction, financially abundance and harvest.

Missions Monday - Lowthorps

I do not think you have to go abroad to be on the mission field. I think it is actually harder to minister to people in our own back yard than across the world.  I know I have done both. 
Our really good friends, the Lowthorps have become missionaries in the town of Georgetown.  They gave up their two-story house to move into a local apartment community to become a CARES team.  They are the hands and feet to the apartment community.  Any time a new person moves into the community, they welcome them.  Each month, they host various fellowships, outreaches and various events to create a community within the apartment complex.  This past month, Pam collected clothes so the children could have a back-to-school clothes swap.  They host monthly events for the single moms including free babysitting.  I think it would be an amzing opportunity for a young married couple, although they do it with their two children.  I love to see what they are doing each month and get updates b/c we are on their prayer team.  I am so blessed to call you friends!!

Missions Monday - Cristina

This is my sweet friend, Cristina who so graciously opened her home to Merissa and I while we were in Bucharest last fall.  When we were there she told us about one day wanting to be married, but knew if that was what God wanted it would happen in his time.  Since we left she has met the man of her dreams, a missionary to China.  They are getting married this November and are preparing to leave next week for China.  Please lift her up in prayers.  Romania has a much better relationship with China than the states as it was once a Communist country.  Romanian missionaries are better received.  I know she is excited about the new chapter in her life and I know God has amazing things for this couple!

Missions Monday - Staubers

Our really good friends, the Staubers are now the pastors of Celebration XaiXai in Africa.  Almost 2 years ago, I got to see the ground being prepared for the church and yesterday the church opened it's doors to the community of XaiXai, Mozambique.  I wish we could have been there, but I know it is in great hands with Mel and Diane and their kids, Rachel and Matthew.  Please pray for them as they continue on this journey.  Pray for their strength, comfort, and protection and His favor.  We love you guys!  BLESSINGS!

Missions Monday - Momzilla

This is one of my favorite blogs to read - http://sandrachesterman.blogspot.com/.  Last month, she blogged a very open-hearted entry about the finanical hard times that missionaries are going through.  Actually, it is what gave me the idea for Missions Monday.  She is an incredible Mom and the lady who chose me to pass out the thousands of presents at the Christmas party in Swaziland.  It is one of the highlights of my life and to think she gets to see these faces every day.  I would love to see her bank account increase because of this entry, but if nothing more will you stop what you are doing right now and pray for her.  Pray for her finances, her protection, encouragement, rest, joy, and all of the children she impacts daily.

tori box - update

The girls and I finished our box last night.  We had to buy a pkg of 18 wash clothes, extra bars of soap & toothbrushes, so if you make a box let me know and you can have some of our extras.  The total cost was less than $30 (I opted for a little more expensive doll).  We purchased all of our items from Wal-Mart.  We aleady had stickers, so that is not included in the cost.  Let me know if you are in our area and we can split shipping costs.

Missions Monday

I am going to begin blogging about some incredible people doing incredible things for the Lord.  I hope to share with you a missionary every Monday, but not sure I know 52 ministries, so will share as I can.
With the economic times as they are, missionaries and non-profits are getting hit hard.  Children's Cup based out of Louisiana is no different, and unfortunately the ones who are suffering are the children.  This amazing organization feeds thousands of kids each day.  They are raising up the next generation of children orphaned by AIDS in war-torn areas such as Mozambique.  As I blogged about last month, they are accepting Tori boxes for the children to return to school with and scholarships for the children - tuition, books and uniforms for $150.