GOD IS SO GOOD!

Well this week has been an adventure! God is soooo good. Our church has a motto, "If you step out in faith, God will provide." It's so true. We sometime doubt the power of God, how he can change things, provide funds, open doors, heal the sick, and sooooo much more. We have seen some of these miracles this week and in our lives lately!

God has provided miraculously for both Rich and I to travel to Sierra Leone, that is about $4000 each!! And he has provided for every single penny of our adoptions costs. He is so good!

We sat in church at the prayer meeting on Wednesday night and the presence of God was so powerful, Pastor Curt didn't even get to his prepared sermon. We spent the majority of the evening in prayer, "Prayer changes everything." I can't mention on here what happened but it was an absolute answer to prayer. All the hurdels with our adoption haven't been completed yet BUT we are one step closer!!

Monday we will travel to St. Louis to do the final fingerprints for the USCIS approval of our adoption. This is the first step we need completed before we can start the adoption process in Sierra Leone. :)

As I type this I sit listening to What Faith Can Do by Kutless, the lyrics to the song are so true! We have seen this happen this week, here are the lyrics:

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you're stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
http://www.elyricsworld.com/what_faith_can_do_lyrics_kutless.html
You don't have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

T-SHIRT UPDATE!!

The shirts should be ready tomorrow!!! YEA!!! I will email or call you to get you your shirt(s). Also, I ordered some extras if you have anyone that would like to purchase one. Here are the extra sizes I will have tomorrow if anyone wants one:

Womens:
XL and L

Mens:
S, M, L and XL

Thanks to everyone who purchased shirts to help bring our little Kevin home. God Bless!

HELP

As all of you readers probably know by know Rich and I are involved with an Orphanage or Center as we like to call it in Sierra Leone, West africa. The center is ran by The Raining Season, truely a ministry that is changing children's lives!!

We are currently expanding our facilities to provide a home and loving care for more orphaned children. We are so blessed that our son we are adopting lives in the center there until we can bring him home. The Covering is the official name of the center and it truely breaks my heart that I can't be there daily to see all the children and workers I fell in love with this May.

We have stepped out in faith on leasing a new building but we need to raise $16,000 by the end of August. That's only 30 days away! If you feel led to donate please visit www.therainingseason.org If you know a church that would be willing to let us come and speak about The Raining Season please email me at tiff.johnson85@gmail.com

We also have a couple children that still need sponsors. Have you considered sponsoring a child but don't want to give up $20 a month? DO IT!!! It will not only change the life of an orphaned child but It will grow your faith!!!

And last but not least. Sorry for such a long delay in getting the t-shirts. They will be ready this Wednesday and I am going to personally drive to Bolivar and pick them up. I will be calling you when I can deliver them to you. I still have some extras that I ordered if you would like one, please msg me.

MIRACLES

Well this week has had its ups and downs but God has provided some miracles in our lives. I can't even begin to explain how this week has brought us closer as a family, closer to God and closer as husband and wife. We had an unexpected surprise when our only computer died this week, with everything on it and no back up. God provided and we were able to buy a cheap acer at Wal-Mart. I also came home from running a quick errand one day this week to find $30 on my kitchen counter. Rich only has 43 days till he leaves for Africa. GOD has provided for everything we need to start his journey, shots, passports, etc...

On another note, please be in prayer for a set of twins that one our friend's here sponsors from The Covering. The are very sick and despertaly need medical here in the USA. Along with Suwuju who we are still trying to get medical care for here. Also, Erica and Tina are currently in route to Africa for some items that need tending to at the center. We are hopefully leasing a new building soon. But the new building start up cost is about $25,000 which will be due by August 30th. If anyone has any churches, events, etc that we could speak at to raise funds please message me. thank you!!

These past couple of days have been rough emotionally for me. I miss Kevin like crazy and it is so hard not seeing him every day. Wondering if he's walking all over the place now, how many words he's trying to say. All the stuff parents love to experience with there children. It's so hard not having our 3rd child here with us, but God is watching over him. Please be praying for the SL embassy to pass the new adoption law and for everything else to fall into place for us to bring him home.

Okay, that's it for now.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE A SPONSOR

So as a child of The Covering to have a sponsor is an amazing feeling. They so love reading there letters and pictures from there aunties and uncles in america. Here is a little video on Sponsorship

The Covering Home for Children from Tina S on Vimeo.

We have 12 kids that still do not have sponsors. Here are two of the little boys in the center that still need sponsors:


This is Musa. He only has a educational sponsorship available. It is $40 a month and will provide an excellent education. Msg me if you are interested.


This is Shariff. He came to the center as a rock laborer and now has the opportunity to be a child again. His only sponsorship left if his personal which provides for all his personal needs. It's $20 a month. Anyone want to help?

CHECK THIS OUT!

You have to watch the most recent TRS video. We are outgrowing our current center and desperately need a new center for more space for more orphaned children. Visit it at http://vimeo.com/13229669

Also, we have 12 children in the center that do not have sponsors, they range from $20 a month to $40 a month. If you would like to sponsor a child please email me at tiff.johnson85@gmail.com and I can get you pictures and monthly sponsorship info. As a personal sponsor myself, I know this sponsorship will be like no other sponsorship you have ever done before. The sponsorship is so personal, you can send letters, toys, pictures etc. And you will get letter, pictures, videos and you can even have opportunities to travel to see your child.

Please please watch the video and be praying if God will have you sponsor a child or donate for the new building!!

Also, please be praying for Suwuju still, we have a Doctor that is working on our behalf for the hospital to take Suwuju as a probono (good will) or donate the treatment. This is going to be huge!!! I am going to fast tomorrow and am asking my fellow friends and family to also fast with me on Suwuju's behalf.We need to be specific when we pray and they major need is for the hospital to accept his case as a PROBONO case! We have a doctor now we just need God to work on the financial aspects.

And lastly, we still have t-shirts available for purchase!! IF you would like to support our adoption please please consider purchasing one. I am still honoring the buy one get one for half price deal from the weekend.

What Next?

So today I have asked myself the question God What's Going to happen next? Good things please :) God is doing an amazing work right now and I am in anticipation to see him work everything out.

We got our fingerprint appointment in the mail today from the USCIS. I can't believe this. This is a HUGE miracle. It normally takes months for them to schedule this, we got ours in 2 weeks! GOD!! Only GOD!!

A great friend of ours gave us our first financial donation for our adoption and it was a reminder from God, that he will provide for everything he calls us too!! I can't tell you how much we appreciate the people God has put into our lives during this exciting times, people to laugh, cry, express every feeling you can imagine with.

Lastly, a HUGE prayer request. We have a doctor at Mercy Children's Hospital in Kansas City that is willing to treat Suwuju! PRAISE THE LORD!! BUT we are still waiting for the financial office to approve his case as a probono, which means they will cover all costs completely! This is going to take an act of GOD to get approved so we need all the prayer warriors out there to please please pray! Suwuju's life depends on it.

That's it for today!! Thanks for reading our blog!

Two day t-shirt blitz!!!

We are going to have a 2 day blitz this weekend!
The first one is when you purchase a t-shirt at full price f $24.95 you can purchase a 2nd shirt for half off, that is $12 for the 2nd shirt.

The 2nd blitz is a friendly little contest to see who can sell the most t-shirts for our family! The lucky winner will receive 2 of our Amazing Simply Love Sierra Leone adoption shirts (your choice).

You can participate in both Blitz’s. In order for you to receive entry into the 2nd blitz the person you are referring must pay for the shirt by Sunday night and they can also participate in the buy one get one ½ off! Two amazing fun blitz’s!!

If you are new to our blog, we are selling T-shirts for our adoption of our little boy who lives in The Covering in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Here are the pictures of the shirts!

Front of Women's Simply Love

Back of Women's Simply Love

Front of Men's Simply Love

Back of Men's Simply Love

GIVEAWAY WINNER!!

the giveaway winner is Stacey McElroy!!! Congratulations! I will email you with what shirt you would like!! Thanks so much to everyone who participated in the Giveaway. You can still purchase a shirt if you would like! We are doing the first t-shirt order for 2 weeks. So msg me soon if you would like one.

Thanks again to everyone who particiapated and got the word out on our giveaway!

HELP PLEASE!!

A little boy in the Covering is in need of desperate medical care here in the U.S. His name is Sawaju and he is 11 yrs old. While we were in Sierra Leone in May we took him to the Doctor and the originally thought it was a tooth problem, then a broken jaw and now have had CT scans done and it is a Riccits Lymphoma (sp) which is a type of bone or soft tissue eating cancer, so a portion of his jaw is deteriating because the cancer is taking over in his jaw.

We have been denied medical coverage thru St. Jude because his records show a shot of Chemo has been given to him which was probably antibiotics. We are FRANTICALLY searching for preferably a pedicatric childrens hospital to treat him. If you have any connects or resources with a doctor please please please message me. I spent most of my day yesterday trying to find a treatment center for this little guy and we havae came up with nothing! Please also pray for Sawaju as this will be a very difficult transition once we are able to bring him to the states for medical care.

This is Sawaju


Thank you and God Bless!!

A couple more hours!

You only have until midnight tonight to enter into our t-shirt giveaway. Email me or leave a cooment if you want to be entered into the giveaway! We can't wait to bless someone special with one of our amazing t-shirts!

GIVEAWAY!!!

This is a giveaway for a Simply Love Sierra Leone T-shirt. We created these shirts in order to raise funds for our personal adoption and the shirts help us billboard for the orphan crisis in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The giveaway will go until Friday night at midnight and on Saturday morning we will pick a winner. The winner will have the choice of either a Men’s or Women’s Shirt in any size. All you need to do is one or all of these simple things:

1)Give our blog T-shirt giveaway a shout out on your blog or Facebook or both for double entries (our blog address is www.johnsonlove5.blogspot.com)
2)Email all your friends and family about our giveaway and have them email me if they would like to purchase a shirt, my email is tiff.johnson85@gmail.com
3)Tell me why you want to win :)

You can can enter as many times as you want!! Just leave me a message with your blog or facebook address and how many enteries you have.

SIERRA LEONE ADOPTION T-SHIRTS!!

So we officially have our next fundraiser in full swing. We are selling Simply Love Sierra Leone t-shirts. We were so blessed to find Kari Gibson's blog where she sells Simply Love Africa shirts and allowed us to use the design to make Simply Love Sierra Leone shirts. These t-shirts were created just for us and our adoption. Which bring a very special meaning for our family. Each shirt is $24.95 for XS-XL. If you would like one please email me at tiff.johnson85@gmail.com or use the Paypal button located on the left of this blog. All proceeds from our shirts goes towards our adoption costs.

Here is what they look like!! Pre-order yours today!

Women's Front


Women's Back


Men's Front


Mens Back