Well we have less than a week left before we leave! :) I am sooooo excited I can't sit still these past couple days. I am all packed LOL but keep repacking, organizing, thinking of things I need to get still, etc.... BUT...... I want to share the incredible work that God has done for this trip! Not only was this trip somewhat spur of the moment but God has provided every step of the way from Airline tickets to gift bags. Here is a recap of all God has done for this trip:
We started out needing $200 in luggage sponsors to bring over the Peanut butter for the hospital ministry we are doing, GOD PROVIDED it in less than 24 hours, we needed atleast 50 jars of peanut butter for the care packages, GOD PROVIDED it and we actually have about 75 jars now :) our flight's got re routed this week and is actually a better flight now AND allows for more luggage without costing us a dime GOD PROVIDED, we were in need of 50 gift bags for the care packages GOD PROVIDED it and last but not least we wanted to put a beenie baby or small toy for each child in the hospital that the care packages will go to and a Dr's office locally had been collecting donations over the past several months and when I got home and started going thru the donations, guess what was in one of the tubs :) of course 65 beenie babies, new with tags GOD PROVIDED what we thought would be impossible for this trip!
I am in awe of all the blessings God has provided us for the trip and for our family over the past several weeks.
Please be in prayer for our safety as we travel, our children to adjust well to both of us being gone, our health while we are in country and specifically for our trip. One of the primary reasons we are taking this trip is to build a relationship with Kevin and William so once we bring them home they will adjust better. With the Sierra Leone law and gov't still not moving quickly on the adoptions we feel the need to provide them with that Mother/Father bond we will need to start our family with them.
Thank you all for your prayers and support!! We love each and every one of you!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Glory to God!
As we prepare for our trip in just 17 short days away God has been so appearant in our journey already and we haven't even boarded the plane yet :) We received all our 4 luggage donations in less than 24 hours and all the peanut butter in a matter of days! We want to say a big thank you to Harter House in Nixa for generously donating 36 jars of peanut butter!!
God is so good! We also received all the gift bags and cash to place in the care packages to hand out at the children's Hospital. Again we just want to say thank you for your help in our mission trip donations. We are still selling t-shirts if you would like to purchase one all the proceeds will go towards purchasing small bibles we would like to hand out to the community while we are there.
Thanks again and God Bless.
God is so good! We also received all the gift bags and cash to place in the care packages to hand out at the children's Hospital. Again we just want to say thank you for your help in our mission trip donations. We are still selling t-shirts if you would like to purchase one all the proceeds will go towards purchasing small bibles we would like to hand out to the community while we are there.
Thanks again and God Bless.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Really 16 months???
It has been 16 months since we first laid eyes on our little precious Kevin. He will be 2 next week and it's a bitter sweet moment. One of our friends in SL right now sent us a picture of Kevin and I cried when I saw it tears of joy and tears of sadness because our little baby is not a baby anymore :( It's really is hard to watch them grow up in pictures wondering what his first word was, when he toke his first steps all those firsts you miss out on. Then I think of our precious William and all his firsts we have missed and how much he needs a family. A mother, family and siblings to love and nuture him.
This process is not easy at all but God has us waiting for a reason and no one knows the reason. I am reminded of the Story of Noah and the patience he had not only with building the ark but waiting for the flood to end and to find dry land. People mocked him and laughed at him as he built the ark. BUT his patience paid off in the end. God will provide his promises on GOD'S time not ours and that is one of those friendly reminders I had today. Patience is a virtue!
I pray everyday that we can bring our boys home soon but I don't want it to happen until it's God's timing. We leave in 27 short days and I can't wait to spend 9 days with our boys just catching up and learning about one another, loving on one another and just being able to be a family.
This process is not easy at all but God has us waiting for a reason and no one knows the reason. I am reminded of the Story of Noah and the patience he had not only with building the ark but waiting for the flood to end and to find dry land. People mocked him and laughed at him as he built the ark. BUT his patience paid off in the end. God will provide his promises on GOD'S time not ours and that is one of those friendly reminders I had today. Patience is a virtue!
I pray everyday that we can bring our boys home soon but I don't want it to happen until it's God's timing. We leave in 27 short days and I can't wait to spend 9 days with our boys just catching up and learning about one another, loving on one another and just being able to be a family.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
PAYPAL ISSUES
For those of you trying to purchase shirts and ran into paypal issues. I am very sorry. Not sure if the link just isn't working but we have fixed the problem. Please visit the products tab to order now. I had to make some slight adjustments, instead of a drop down bar showing the sizes it is just a pay now button. PLEASE NOTE What size, mens/womens and what color shirt you would like in the notes part of your paypal payment! Thanks again for your patience!!!
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Faith of Moses
The past 24 hours God has worked his miracles once again :) We were in need of 4 luggage donations of $50 each or $200 total for our luggage full of supplies to take to The Covering and to carry the peanut butter for the Children's Hospital outreach we plan on doing while we are there. In less than 24 hours we received ALL 4 luggage donations! Thank you so much to those who donated! You are such a blessing to our family and please know that your donation means alot to those that will be receiving the care packages we are making.
I was reminded by a great friend this morning while we were discussing missions trips and how God will continue provide miracles when you step on in Faith. She reminded me of the faith of Moses, where he had to step into the Red Sea before God would part it. It was a physical and spiritual form of stepping out in Faith. We understand this story's results in great magnitude. Even though this trip is primarily to spend time with our boys and love on all 84 kiddos in the center. We had stepped out in faith to take on a project of this sort without the personal funds to make a project like this happen by ourselves. The donors for the supplies and donations of luggage costs had to STEP out in FAITH as well!! We are all the parts of one body working together!
Please be in prayer for the peanut butter, I contacted a local grocery store today and they just have to confirm with the owner of the store and we will know on Wednesday whether or not they can donate the 50 Jars of peanut butter.
Lastly, we will still be selling shirts thru March 30th and all donations will go towards the purchase of bread, water packets, and the cash we will be putting in the care packages to take to the mom's and babies in the Children' Hospital. (We will also be putting in Ty beanie babies and those were also donated as well, around 60-80 , God is so good).
Once again, thank you for your support, donations and most importantly your prayers during these remaining 32 days!!
I was reminded by a great friend this morning while we were discussing missions trips and how God will continue provide miracles when you step on in Faith. She reminded me of the faith of Moses, where he had to step into the Red Sea before God would part it. It was a physical and spiritual form of stepping out in Faith. We understand this story's results in great magnitude. Even though this trip is primarily to spend time with our boys and love on all 84 kiddos in the center. We had stepped out in faith to take on a project of this sort without the personal funds to make a project like this happen by ourselves. The donors for the supplies and donations of luggage costs had to STEP out in FAITH as well!! We are all the parts of one body working together!
Please be in prayer for the peanut butter, I contacted a local grocery store today and they just have to confirm with the owner of the store and we will know on Wednesday whether or not they can donate the 50 Jars of peanut butter.
Lastly, we will still be selling shirts thru March 30th and all donations will go towards the purchase of bread, water packets, and the cash we will be putting in the care packages to take to the mom's and babies in the Children' Hospital. (We will also be putting in Ty beanie babies and those were also donated as well, around 60-80 , God is so good).
Once again, thank you for your support, donations and most importantly your prayers during these remaining 32 days!!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
34 DAYS OF PREPARATION!!
Go check out the products tab on the top of the page and see our Updated shirts. W have reduced the price to $18 each in hoping to sell some more shirts and spread the word around the world about Oprhans!!
AND....... From today until March 30th all shirt purchases and necklace proceeds will go towards our trip in April to help fund a feeding program at the children's hospital! So please know that your shirt is not only an awesome shirt you can wear :) but it's also going to help feed hungry sick mommy's and babies in the ICU and feeding units of the hospital there.
Here is our needs list for the April trip again.....
50-60 Peanut Butter Jars or average of $2 a jar for donations
2 bags of Rice which we will purchase there cost is $50 a bag so $100 for both
$40 for individual water packets
$30 for small loaves of bread
Small gifts bags
Donations in the amount of $50, we will be placing money in each care bag so they can purchase a meal for the following days while there child is being cared for in the hospital
You can also donate thru the paypal link on the left hand side of the blog.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND HELP!!!!! 34 DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE!!
Feel free to share this on your blog or facebook page and God Bless!!!
AND....... From today until March 30th all shirt purchases and necklace proceeds will go towards our trip in April to help fund a feeding program at the children's hospital! So please know that your shirt is not only an awesome shirt you can wear :) but it's also going to help feed hungry sick mommy's and babies in the ICU and feeding units of the hospital there.
Here is our needs list for the April trip again.....
50-60 Peanut Butter Jars or average of $2 a jar for donations
2 bags of Rice which we will purchase there cost is $50 a bag so $100 for both
$40 for individual water packets
$30 for small loaves of bread
Small gifts bags
Donations in the amount of $50, we will be placing money in each care bag so they can purchase a meal for the following days while there child is being cared for in the hospital
You can also donate thru the paypal link on the left hand side of the blog.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AND HELP!!!!! 34 DAYS UNTIL WE LEAVE!!
Feel free to share this on your blog or facebook page and God Bless!!!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Exciting News!
Rich and I will be traveling to Sierra Leone the first week of April to be able to spend time with the boys. As our current adoption process is on hold waiting for the ban to lift we feel that this trip is crucial to our children as they need to have that constant connection with us and be able to adjust in the future to us as their parents. This time will be different both of our previous trips, we are traveling without a big group and traveling only with another couple who is also adopting and wanting to spend time with their kids. This will be an amazing week of time just to love on our boys and be with them everyday to connect with one another and build a good relationship with them.
Here is why I am telling you all this first of all we need your prayers!! Here are specific things to be praying for:
1. Our health and safety on the trip (specifically on our travel dates March 31st thru April 9th)
2. For Emma and Jayden to adjust okay to both of us being gone for 10 days
3. Our connection with William and Kevin would grow increasingly and that they would be comfortable opening up to us
4. Supplies and funds we need for the special projects we would like to do while we are there
5. The ban would lift before we go in April so that we could possibly go to court or committee with our adoption case while we are in country
While we are there we do have a couple projects planned while the kids are in school, we will be going back to the children's hospital that both Rich and I visited last year, to hand our care packages to the moms and children. We will also be possibly going into Kroo Bay (which according to UN is the poorest place on the earth) and doing a small feeding program if we can with just the 4 of us.
Here is where we need you help. We will providing care packages to the mothers and there sick children in the hospital. The hospital doesn't offer food for the child or parent while they are getting proper medical care so many mom's go without food and so do the children. The care packages will consist of a gift bag with a piece of bread, peanut butter, money and water. We are asking for unopened peanut butter jars (the small ones) and small gift bags. (Approximately 50-60 jars and bags) For the feeding program we would like to do in either Kroo Bay or just out in the community we will need financialy help to purchase the rice and water there.
The last project we will be doing is taking donations of supplies for the Orphanage over. We have 6-8 Large suitcases full of donations of diapers, school supplies, etc. that a local doctor's office donated (now we just need to get them there). The only problem is each bag costs $50 to get on the plane. So we are asking for "Luggage sponsors" yes "Luggage Sponsors" your name will be placed on that piece of luggage as we travel with many donations for the orphanage and children :) in honor of your "luggage donation"!
If you would like to donate specifically for the care packages or feeding programs. Please send a paypal payment to my email address at tiff.johnson85@gmail.com (please note that it's for the April Missions projects). If you would like to mail a donation please mail those to 755 S. Nicholas Rd. Nixa, MO 65714
If you would like to donate peanut butter please email me if you are local and I can pick it up.
****ALSO IF YOUR CHILD'S CLASS OR SCHOOL WOULD LIKE TO SEND CARDS OR DO A PEANUT BUTTER DRIVE OR FUNDRAISE FOR THE PROGRAMS, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING TO SHARE THIS MINISTRY WITH CHILDREN AROUND THE GLOBE!!!!*****
We are very grateful for this opportunity to partner with you in our missions efforts while we are there.
Here are some pictures from Kroo Bay and the Children's hospital from our May and Sept 2010 trips where we will be visiting again:
Here is why I am telling you all this first of all we need your prayers!! Here are specific things to be praying for:
1. Our health and safety on the trip (specifically on our travel dates March 31st thru April 9th)
2. For Emma and Jayden to adjust okay to both of us being gone for 10 days
3. Our connection with William and Kevin would grow increasingly and that they would be comfortable opening up to us
4. Supplies and funds we need for the special projects we would like to do while we are there
5. The ban would lift before we go in April so that we could possibly go to court or committee with our adoption case while we are in country
While we are there we do have a couple projects planned while the kids are in school, we will be going back to the children's hospital that both Rich and I visited last year, to hand our care packages to the moms and children. We will also be possibly going into Kroo Bay (which according to UN is the poorest place on the earth) and doing a small feeding program if we can with just the 4 of us.
Here is where we need you help. We will providing care packages to the mothers and there sick children in the hospital. The hospital doesn't offer food for the child or parent while they are getting proper medical care so many mom's go without food and so do the children. The care packages will consist of a gift bag with a piece of bread, peanut butter, money and water. We are asking for unopened peanut butter jars (the small ones) and small gift bags. (Approximately 50-60 jars and bags) For the feeding program we would like to do in either Kroo Bay or just out in the community we will need financialy help to purchase the rice and water there.
The last project we will be doing is taking donations of supplies for the Orphanage over. We have 6-8 Large suitcases full of donations of diapers, school supplies, etc. that a local doctor's office donated (now we just need to get them there). The only problem is each bag costs $50 to get on the plane. So we are asking for "Luggage sponsors" yes "Luggage Sponsors" your name will be placed on that piece of luggage as we travel with many donations for the orphanage and children :) in honor of your "luggage donation"!
If you would like to donate specifically for the care packages or feeding programs. Please send a paypal payment to my email address at tiff.johnson85@gmail.com (please note that it's for the April Missions projects). If you would like to mail a donation please mail those to 755 S. Nicholas Rd. Nixa, MO 65714
If you would like to donate peanut butter please email me if you are local and I can pick it up.
****ALSO IF YOUR CHILD'S CLASS OR SCHOOL WOULD LIKE TO SEND CARDS OR DO A PEANUT BUTTER DRIVE OR FUNDRAISE FOR THE PROGRAMS, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING TO SHARE THIS MINISTRY WITH CHILDREN AROUND THE GLOBE!!!!*****
We are very grateful for this opportunity to partner with you in our missions efforts while we are there.
Here are some pictures from Kroo Bay and the Children's hospital from our May and Sept 2010 trips where we will be visiting again:
The Children's Hospital
Kroo Bay
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