Four Times Better--A Fundraising Update

I should know by now to expect great things from the Lord--and I do!

I set a goal of $300 to buy school supplies for Trees of Glory.

Well, God went ahead and quadrupled it--in less than 24 hours.

That's right, our fundraising goal has been hit four times over and we are now at

$1214!!!

We are overjoyed by the response and praising God.

If you had planned on donating and just haven't gotten around to it yet, please feel free to still do so.  Even though we met our goal, there are always more needs to meet than resources when we visit Ethiopia.  

Maybe there is already an even bigger need at Trees of Glory that God is preparing us for.

Rest assured, we will bless the socks of the kids and staff at Trees of Glory with these funds and get them all set up for a great school year.  Every dollar truly makes a difference!

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Thank you to all who have so generously given!

TREES OF GLORY FUNDRAISING ALERT

I leave in 4 days for Ethiopia and aside from meeting our new son for the first time, I am most excited about being able to visit my friends at Trees of Glory and the Children's HopeChest staff.  It is always a highlight of my trip to take the two hour drive into the rolling hills of the countryside to the Trees of Glory care point that is now serving about 150 orphaned and vulnerable children.  It is where our sponsor child Meseret receives biblical discipleship, nutrition, education and medical medical care.

Me and Meseret May 2011

I'm working to arrange a trip to Trees of Glory and I want to be able to shower them with school supplies and books for the new school year.  I'm limited on luggage space this time--even more than usually--because I am still not supposed to lift heavy items due to my surgery in March.  I usually cram every last pound allowed into my suitcase, but this time I have to pack a little lighter.

So here's where you all come in....I need your help to do a super speedy 4 day fundraising campaign to raise a goal of $300 to purchase school supplies and books for the kids at Trees of Glory.

the school room at Trees of Glory

more of the students that will benefit from this fundraiser

There are two options to help out.  

Cash donations are always welcome and can be given via the "donate" button 

at the top left hand side of my blog.

I also have 30 Ethiopian "love" bracelets that I brought home from my last trip to help raise funds for the Trees of Glory Well Project (fully funded and up and running thanks to so many generous donors--can' wait to see that in person!)

I'm offering these again for a $10 donation.  Every single penny goes to Trees of Glory and will help buy school supplies for the upcoming school year or provide for any other immediate need they may have while I'm there.

Just click on the "buy now" button to purchase one of these beautifully handcrafted Ethiopian bracelets.

I have 16 red bracelets.

I have 14 black bracelets.

When you order, please note that you'll have to select the color that you would like and provide your address for shipping.  A $3 shipping fee will be added to the $10 donation at check out.  If you'd like to order more than one bracelet, you have to go in separately to place each order (sorry--just not that tech savvy).  I can ship up to 3 bracelets to the same address for one shipping fee.  I will refund the additional shipping fees via pay pal if you do order more than one bracelet to the same address.  If you are local, I will refund the $3 shipping fee as well.

If I can get all 30 bracelets sold, we will reach the $300 goal just like that.

I'll be shipping bracelets after I return home and will post when I ship, but look for them to arrive on or around August 17th.

As always, please spread the word via email, facebook and blogs so that we can reach as many people over the next few days as possible.

I look forward to sharing pictures of my trip to Trees of Glory with you all.

If you ever wonder if this whole sponsorship thing really makes a difference, take a look at this video that I made from Nick's Children's HopeChest mission trip to Ethiopia in September 2010. Nearly all the children in this video are being cared for through sponsorship programs coordinated by Children's HopeChest.

Take note of the boy at the end of the video holding the yellow flowers. This is him now with Nick's mom Judy. Nick met him on his mission trip and the next summer Judy was matched with him as his sponsor. 

We've seen the difference sponsorship makes and it is an honor to be able to play a small part in helping these kids have a brighter future.

Ethiopia Bound

Praise the Lord for granting us a true miracle--WE HAVE A COURT DATE!!!

August 8th I'll stand before a judge in Ethiopia and we're praying we will officially become parents for the 7th time on that day!!

Sometimes when I say "seven kids" out loud it really sounds like a lot of kids.

But, mostly it sounds just right--our seven from heaven--can't get much luckier than that.

Today I got to go shopping with my mom for all the things I'll need to take care of my little guy for the few days that I'm there for court.  I threw myself a little shower at Target--I had forgotten how fun picking out baby stuff was.

I can't wait to cuddle our sweet boy up, give him a bath (nothing better than a clean baby swaddled up in a hooded towel) and take tons of pictures and video (hope he doesn't mind the mama paparazzi). 

Check out the little onesie--couldn't pass that one up!

The excitement is building as I get ready to meet our little boy in just 1 week!  I feel unbelievably blessed that God has given us one more baby to love.  I'm going to savor every last minute (and Nick has told me this is most certainly the last, so I had better savor it up ;-)

The whole family is bursting to welcome this sweet little one to the family.

***STAY TUNED FOR  A TREES OF GLORY FUNDRAISING BLITZ***
I'm hoping to be able to buy school supplies while I'm there for the beginning of their school year.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Psalm 34:4

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.  Psalm 86:12