Planning a Missions Trip...one call at a time

Just had my first of what will be weekly conference calls. 25 people are on our team. For the two of you out there who I know think about Uganda a lot, there is still time to get money in (just thought you'd like to know). Here would be a very short summary of the call:

I am the only Utahan (and the only person from the west) going.

I'll have to leave on the 6th of May instead of the 7th so I can depart with the team from DC on the 7th (sorry honey!).

Traveling from DC to Addis Abba - 12 hours
Traveling from Addis Abba to Rome to DC - 15 hours
Traveling from Salt Lake to DC or vise versa - it depends

Travel Insurance and Medical Evacuation Insurance - Covered

All team members will be registered with the Dept. of State - Just in case

Don't drink the water - Check

Get some shots and medicine - On my list (but I'm procrastinating)

Bring 2 suitcases. One for me and my stuff. One with room for donations - Check

Be flexible - Check

Bring Band aids - Check

Don't go out alone - No problem

In-Country guides/translators are very protective of misisons teams - Good to know!

Relationships with VO and the places/orphanages/hospitals we'll be visiting have long-standing relationships - That's awesome!

Should get my t-shirt in the mail next week - Yea!

I'm getting excited - in case you couldn't tell

On a more serious note, I'm also doing pre-trip devotionals and a Bible Study. Though it doesn't surprise me like it used to, I sure love having "ah-ha" moments about this adventure. I also know that this is just the beginning...of what, I don't yet know. Guess I'll just take a leap of faith and wait and see!

Fundraising: The final Chapter

Here would be the last item that I will be selling before my trip in May. These hand-made necklaces are sold on the Visiting Orphans website, but I will be receiving 50 of these in various sizes and colors in the very near future. I will be selling them both before the April 16th Dinner and at the event.

Cost: $20

Where will your $20 go?

$8 per necklace goes towards the trip cost for a V.O. team-member.
$4 goes to the widow or orphan who made the necklace.
$8 goes to V.O. for ongoing orphan ministry.
(it's a "win, win, win" for everyone)
Hint: Just in time for Mother's Day!

So, to sum up all of the "Awareness Raising" and "Fund Raising" I am doing, here is "the list":

1. Just Love Coffee: fair trade coffee that helps orphans find their forever families (click on the link to the right to place an order)
2. Acacia Necklaces: orphan care ministry
3. Spaghetti Dinner & Cardboard Art Gala: Saturday, April 16 (see the "Cardboard Gala" post below for details). Tickets are now available...just e-mail, call or post a comment and we'll get them to you!

Got a Date...And a T-Shirt!

This would be our "Just Love Coffee" t-shirts I ordered through the coffee fundraiser I set up (see the link to the right). Now I can say "Almost there...tried the coffee & got my t-shirt!" They have coffee samplers now, too, just FYI.

Cardboard Gala & Spaghetti Dinner

(for card-art details, click HERE)

Date: Saturday, April 16 2011
Time: 4:46 p.m.
(Cardboard "artists" should arrive at 4-4:16 to set up)
Place: Freedom Worship Center, 5536 South 1900 West
(just south of Texas Roadhouse on 5400 South and 1900 West)
Tickets: $5/person or $20 per family

RSVP: E-mail Kyle or I or post a comment, letting us know how many will be attending. We will hold your tickets at the door OR deliver them to you.

If you are part of the FWC family, you can talk to Dave O. or Geri B.

If you are an SMC'er, you can get tickets from Kyle or I when you see us at church or at a small group.

Activities to include (but not limited to):

• Spaghetti Dinner
  
• Africa Trivia & Geography
• Games & Activities
  
• Silent Auction

1/2 of the proceeds will help pay for the cost to actually get me to the continent.
1/2 will be set aside for purchases I can and will make for the orphanages once I get there.

Finally, here is a link to a very cool TODAY SHOW story (this would be the "super-mom" who was supposed to be the team leader for the trip I'm taking, but is suddenly too busy with media appearances. Too bad for me, but not for the millions of orphans living with HIV!).

If you are a dad, you'll laugh. If you are a mother, you'll probably laugh and understand why the man in your life is laughing, too.

*Note to the man in my life: Thanks for being my "reality check" and yet encouraging me to follow my heart. How ever do you do it? I love you. XXX OOO


PS) If you are reading this without having to log-in then apparently I decided to take the privacy setting off. Does that mean my state of "whatever I was feeling" wore off? Partly. Most of it, though, probably has to do with the not-so-mean things people have said to me lately and the divine words, statements and situations God has placed right in front of me or put me in this past week to remind me that He's in charge...no matter who says what (or who doesn't say anything at all).