I'm headed to Africa! Uganda and Ethiopia to be exact. April of 2011 to be even more specific. I'll be going with a team from Visiting Orphans who is partnering with Project Hopeful and Project 61. I won't bore you with details, but please click on the links to read more informative, educational and even inspirational information (hint, hint). I was told the trip "isn't for the faint of heart", and those of you who know me can probably imagine why this trips makes perfect sense for a gal like me.
Ever since falling in love with a beautiful, brown-eyed Chinese princess more than three years ago, God has kept my interest alive and well when it comes to learning and paying attention to children all over the world who don't (yet) have a family of their own. I'm not entirely sure why Africa has been on my heart for such a long time, but God does - I'm sure of that!. And I do know that it's time for me to go and do for "the least of these." I'm pretty sure that I'll be the one blessed by the entire experience, but more than that, I hope and pray and will pray some more that others I know will be inspired to "go" and "do" someday...just like others who've gone before me, inspired me.
My goal is simple: to love and serve each child I'll get to meet with every fiber of my being.
So, here I go! I'm Divin' In! Look to the right and you'll see a YouTube video. Steven Curtis Chapman has been a favorite of mine since college (I won't be telling any of you how long ago that was!) and now that his family and ours have two things in common (one good and one a little sad), he's my all-time favorite Christian artist. His faith, and that of his family, has held up through the darkest hours of their lives...and the man can sing! Check out the video, and as you listen to the words, think of a crazy thing you've done not necessarily because it was a good idea, but because it was God's idea! If you can't think of anything, maybe it's time to start?
And for those of you who know what a special day January 20th is for me and my family, it was this day (yesterday) that I started filling out my paperwork for this trip. Coincidence? I don't think so!
For those of you who don't know, this is the day 10 years ago our daughter was born...and died. A day I was sure would devastate me for the rest of my life. However, now it's filled with Joy. Our Chinese princess (Miranda Joy) was placed in our arms January 20th, three years ago. How humbling it is to know that God would show me how much He loves me on a day that I distinctly remember being angry with him!
By the way, the other music videos listed on the side bar were written just for me. I bet none of you knew that! (Okay, maybe they weren't written for me, but "I Refuse" sums up why I can't come up with any more excuses for not getting involved, and "One Less" would be the song that sings to my heart because I know exactly what that feels like! Maybe some of you do to? Maybe some of you would like to know what that feels like?)
Please keep me, my family and my fund raising in your prayers. T-less than two months to get everything done, packed and paid for! And more importantly, keep orphans 1/2 a world away in your prayers! Don't "change the channel" when you hear something that is scary, disgusting or deplorable. Instead, ask yourself what crazy thing you could do. It might just turn out to be one of the best things you'll ever do!
