Will this speak to you?

Wow!  This video is powerful and speaks to me.  Will it speak to you?

I Am Aware

So I can definitely feel God working in me.  My life has become one of awareness, compassion, and action.  I have a long way to go, but awareness is something that you can't ignore or turn off, and it leads to compassion and action.  I'm just trying to do the best I can.

I am aware that I when I'm stressed, I become short and impatient with my children.  This awareness is helping me to become a better mom.  I'm aware that the people selling the homeless newspaper on the side of the street are trying to change their lives.  I now support them, even if I'm buying the same issue of the paper for the fifth time.  I'm aware that my friend is struggling with her mom dying of cancer.  I don't know what that's like, but I'm trying to learn and comfort her.  I'm aware that there are families just like mine living in a shelter right now because of something that could happen to us, too.  I want to help those families through serving meals at the shelter and participating in the Hike for the Homeless.  I'm aware that students at my school come with lots of baggage from home, so do people I work with.  I want to help others see the good in these students....and my co-workers.  I'm aware that a co-worker is calling out to me for help.  I don't know how to help, but I will focus on our friendship and pray that God will lead me.  I'm aware that there are 163,000,000 orphans in the world.  I can't save them all, but I can work to create awareness and try to change the world for one or two of them (We just started sponsoring Fatmata's brother, Umaru.)

With this awareness, compassion, and action comes a struggle within me that I wasn't prepared for (I hate putting prepositions at the end of a sentence!).  I guess I thought that as God worked in me, it would be easy to share my excitement, sadness, and other emotions with others.  I thought that it would just radiate from me.  And I thought that others would just get it, but that's not the case.  I actually feel sort of lonely.  I have so much going on inside of me, and I'm desperate to learn so much more about God, the Bible, and how God is working through others.  I'm finding it difficult to share my thoughts, emotions, and desires with others, though.....or when I do try to share, I feel like they don't get it, question it, or don't care.  I think I was naive to think that as God changed my life, I would see him change the lives of people around me, too.  And I know that he's using me for this, and I do see lives around me being affected.  It's just not as easy as I thought it would be.  

This isn't a pity party for me, just an open, honest example of how I'm feeling.  Through a women's event this week, I'm aware that God wants me to be honest about my feelings, thoughts, and struggles.  I hope that this honesty will bring me closer to God and closer to the ones around me.   

Flight Itinerary

The tickets are purchased and we have our flight itinerary!  I have to say, it was a little disappointing to see how much time will be spent traveling.  We'd hoped to fly from DC to Dakar, Africa.  This pattern would've cut our travel time in half!  Sometimes you have to weigh the cost of time and money, and this time the cheaper flight won.  


"Hey everybody! Below are flight patterns.... Let me know if anything doesn't make sense... Once step closer :) By the way ORD stands for Chicago... BRU stands for Brussels... FNA stands for Freetown..." -Erica

FROM NASHVILLE
AA4197 20JAN BNAORD 1220P 155P
AA 088 20JAN ORDBRU 500P 805A
SN 237 21JAN BRUFNA 1120A 705P
SN 238 28JAN FNABRU 805P 520A 
AA 089 29JAN BRUORD 1045A 100P
AA4055 29JAN ORDBNA 445P 615P 

FROM OMAHA
AA4371 20JAN OMAORD 120P 255P
AA 088 20JAN ORDBRU 500P 805A 
SN 237 21JAN BRUFNA 1120A 705P
SN 238 28JAN FNABRU 805P 520A
AA 089 29JAN BRUORD 1045A 100P
AA4204 29JAN ORDOMA 310P 445P

FROM SPRINGFIELD
AA3932 20JAN SGFORD 805A 940A
AA 088 20JAN ORDBRU 500P 805A
SN 237 21JAN BRUFNA 1120A 705P 
SN 238 28JAN FNABRU 805P 520A 
AA 089 29JAN BRUORD 1045A 100P
AA4061 29JAN ORDSGF 600P 740P

FROM KANSAS CITY
AA3941 20JAN MCIORD 110P 245P 20JAN 
AA 088 20JAN ORDBRU 500P 805A 21JAN 
SN 237 21JAN BRUFNA 1120A 705P 21JAN 
SN 238 28JAN FNABRU 805P 520A 29JAN 
AA 089 29JAN BRUORD 1045A 100P 29JAN 
AA2423 29JAN ORDMCI 230P 400P 29JAN


How exciting, though!  I haven't traveled much, and the thought of traveling over the ocean, to Belgium, and then to Africa is pretty cool.  I'm sure I'll think differently on the trip home! :)

It's Real!-Deposits and Shots are Paid

As quick as the money came in, it goes back out!  Yesterday was both exciting and nerve-racking!  I wrote my first check towards my trip, and our plane tickets are being booked next week.  I can't wait to see an actual flight itinerary!

We continue to fundraise, but I'm comfortable that God will provide for the expenses of our travel.  Our Kroger Cards are being used (thanks to everyone using them!), and we should receive our first check from them sometime this month.  What touches me the most, though, is the number of personal donations that I've received.  I'm amazed at the generosity of my friends, family, and complete strangers who support my mission!  My life experiences continue to reveal my "real" friends, and I'm blessed to be surrounded by such genuine people.  I am loved!

Another big event yesterday was receiving my travel vaccines.  I'm still sore!  It's scary to think that a person needs so much protection just to enter another country.  It's also scary to think that the people living don't get this protection.  A simple shot could save so many lives!  We take so many things for granted!  Our medical access is such a miracle, and it's not being shared around the world!

I continue to pray that what hurts God will hurt me and the ones around me!  I pray that my travel, and the travel and efforts of others, will create awareness and open eyes and hearts.  We have so much to share with those less fortunate (less fortunate seems like an understatement!).  I prayer that we will all start looking at our own lives and what we can each do to change the life of another.  I have a LONG way to go on this journey.  I'm the first to admit that I struggle with material things and committing my life to service.  It's so easy to sit back and be comfortable.  But I pray that God will continue to show me how to make a difference, and that I will continue to push myself out of comfort.  I want to make a difference!

Africa Becomes Personal

I'm amazed at the efforts of The Raining Season to make sponsorship personal!  We sponsor a child, Fatmata, at The Covering in Sierra Leone.  Every few months or so, I receive an update on her with pictures, but the relationship is much more personal than that now.  In September, my family put together a photo album to send to Fatmata with the traveling team, and over the last few weeks, we've been given the opportunity to Skype!

What an amazing experience!  My kids loved it, and I hope that Fatmata did, too.  Between the time delay and limited English, it's hard to have a conversation, but we've managed to make a few connections.  Fatmata and Ella were happy to discover that they both wear uniforms to school, they have recess, and they both like Math.  Fatmata has a little brother, too, just like Ella.  Fatmata asked to see our dog, and next week, Ella wants to play the piano for her.  It was amazing to look into the eyes of this little girl in Africa and tell her that I'm coming to see her!

We can't change THE WORLD alone, but we can each change A WORLD for one (I have to credit Andrew Kirk for this wording!).  Love this idea, and Matthew West does a great job of expressing it this song!


One Less by Matthew West (The Story Behind The Song) from emicmg on Vimeo.


If you've ever wondered how to change the world for one, please consider sponsoring a child at The Covering.  Expenses are growing, and the organization depends on sponsors to support the needs of these orphans.  It's such a rewarding experience.  Just follow this link to sign up!

The Raining Season Sponsorship

Why Africa?.....and more!

Wow!  Things are moving so quickly!  Going back to work full-time makes the months pass like weeks.  I can't believe all that's happened in the last month.  Where do I start?  Spiritual journey or financial journey?  I'll talk business first. :)

We now have a good idea of where we stand with fundraising.  We did well at the Chick-fil-a night, but the consignment sale was definitely God's way of providing for us in a big way.  Out of Betsy's home, so did $7,000 in sales!  Of course 1/2 of that goes back to the consignors, but this fundraiser made a huge dent in the cost of our trips.  We also took the remaining clothes and placed them in our church consignment sale.  Those 120 items should help bring in a little more money.  In addition, TRS has recently moved the orphange to a new location.  This new property includes a guest house and will save us the cost of a hotel on our trip.  This trip seemed like such a stretch when we first discussed it, but I'm amazed at how the finances have appeared.  I have well over half of my trip paid for!  At home, our family has made a conscious decision to cut WAY back on eating out, and I have given up haircuts (and hopefully shopping, my weakness!) to help save money.  Our group still plans to do some fundraising.  We have a "Chili's Gives Back" night planned in October, and we're hoping to host a "Parents' Night Out," as well.  I plan to pick up Kroger Gift Cards today that earn us %4 of sales, too, so let me know if you want one.  The Kroger Cards are free to the shoppers and help us raise money!!!

I feel like my spiritual journey is moving as quickly as the money is appearing!  I'm not sure how to explain it, but I'm definitely growing closer to God.  I also see how this impacts the people around me.  I see my journey positively affecting my interactions with Ella, Andrew, Chris, my extended family, and my co-workers.  I feel that I'm more open to discuss my feelings and faith, and I'm growing more confident in this area of my life.  I've never read the Bible all the way through.  I feel like I never really learned to pray, either.  These two things have always made me feel a little insecure with sharing my faith.  I watch others quote scripture and pray impromptu and want their comfort level.  I'm starting to realize, though, that the comfortable comes with growing faith. 

As for the question, "Why Africa?," I think I finally have my answer.  I was reading the Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren last night (our travel team is doing a book study), and she used an analogy that completely described my answer.  My journey to Africa is like a polaroid picture.  Right now, it's just printing and is still blurry.  I can't clearly see how it's going to turn out.  As this journey progresses, the picture will become clearer.  I just have to be patient and wait to discover exactly what God has in store for me.  Kay Warren went on to talk about our digital picture world that we now live in, and how we're accustomed to everything be revealed instantly and clear.  That may be how we live life, but that's not how God operates.  I know it's Africa.  I know it's with this travel team.  I know it's TRS and experiencing their orphange, The Covering.  That's all I can see in the blur right now.  I'll keep you updated on how the picture develops.

Please continue to pray for me and my travel team.  Please continue to pray for TRS and the success of their mission. 

Let the Fundraising Begin!!!!

Last Friday, our group had our first fundraiser.  We had a bake sale at the home of Kristi J.  It was so much fun, a great time for fellowship, and gave the traveling group a time to discuss some of our details.  For me, it was the first time I'd met two of the other travelers.  It's still amazing to me that I'm going to travel around the world with these other women that I don't know very well.  It's weird.  I just have this calming feeling that it's meant to be, though.  I don't know it now, but there are great things in store for us, and I am anxious to grow in faith with these girls.

So......our bake sale raised almost $400 for the group.  I think that's a pretty good start!  Tomorrow night, we're hosting a Chick-fil-a night in Brentwood.  They have offered to give us 15% of the proceeds from diners that mention our group.  We have definitely been spreading the word!  Next week is our women's consignment sale.  I think that's going to be a big hit, too.

The cost of the trip is still an issue for me, but I have to know that God will find a way to provide.  There are so many things that I do daily, weekly, monthly, and so on that I can eliminate to save money.  When you really reflect on the way that we live, there are so many unnecessary things that we feel entitled to.  Right now, I'm sitting in my air conditioned bedroom (luxury), in my queen size bed (luxury), with my down comforter (luxury), with the ceiling fan running (luxury), typing on my computer (luxury), washing a load of laundry (luxury), and settling in for a nice, comfortable night's rest (luxury)!!!!!  That's just the last 30 minutes or so of my day.

I pray that God will help me to see my unnecessaries and really focus on helping others.  May I go with less so that others may have more.  Please pray for our Sierra Leone traveling team.  Please pray for the homeless family at my school.  I can't help but wonder where they are tonight.  Please pray for our families.  It seems that sickness and bad news surround us.  Finally, I pray that God will use me as he sees fit.

You Don't Have to Go Around the World to Help Those in Need

Today was a tough day.  God presented me with an 18 year old boy that I can't seem to get out of my mind.  I want to help him, but I don't know how.  How do you help an 18 year old boy, whose mother has lost her job and house, that the system sees as an adult, and that the school system has given up on.  The boy is homeless, split up from his family, and doesn't have the credits to graduate this year.  When everything seems to be going wrong, he just can't catch a break.  I've called shelters and friends to explore options, but I'm not sure that he or his family will fall into any "category" that qualifies for help.  Please pray for him and his family.  I will continue to work for him and try to get his mother back on her feet.  There are so many needs right here in our own back yard!

Does this make it real?

Well, I'm on post #2, and I've only shared my blog with Chris and Gwen, my best friend.  I'm afraid to share it.  I'm afraid that sharing it will make it real.  I want it to be real, but what if I post this and something changes.  What if I can't raise the money?  What if I chicken out?  What if?  What if?  Sharing my journey seems like the thing to do, though.  I need prayers, and I need support.  I never realized that blogging could make you feel that both are possible.  With this post, I'm going to share this blog on Facebook and remove my search restrictions.  Does this make it real?  I challenge you to make it real for me.  Ask me about my journey?  Ask me about my fundraising?  Hold me accountable!  This is a trip that I know God is calling me to be a part of!

Where do I start?

Two years ago, my life changed in an instant.  I received a phone call from the Vanderbilt Trauma Unit telling me that my husband, Chris, had been in a serious motorcycle wreck.  As my faith grew through the process of being by his side for the months that followed, I knew that God had great things in store for our family.  Following his full recovery, we continually searched, prayed, and discussed what God wanted for our lives.  We felt their was just something more to life!  We continued to focus on our spiritual life, but we were having no luck discovering our "calling."  

One Sunday, a couple from Middle Tennessee spoke to our Sunday School class about their organization, The Raining Season (TRS). The organization had created an orphanage in Siera Leone, Africa, and was very passionate about saving orphans.  Previous to this, we'd been surrounded by stories of adoption but didn't feel that would be our way to help.  I was very touched by the work of TRS, and spent the evening looking at their website and blogs.  I was especially interested in the mission trips.  I talked to Chris about it, but knew this wasn't something that I could do any time soon.  I let the possibility go by the way side.

In the spring of 2010, I helped with a project to send teddy bears to the orphans in the TRS orphanage.  We met on a Sunday afternoon and stuffed over 80 teddy bears. It was this afternoon that brought the possibility of going to Sierra Leone.  I spoke with Amy and discovered that she was accompanying the May group to Africa.  I was excited for her, curious, and a little jealous. I wanted to go, but didn't see it as a possibility.  Here was a mother of three taking action and following her "calling" to help the less fortunate across the Atlantic.  I really wanted to know what led her to the decision to travel.  

When Amy returned, shared her story, and challenged our Sunday School group to pray about traveling with her again in January, I began to talk with Chris and pray.  Amy's story made it seem possible again!  Through many discussions, arguments, praying, and meeting with friends, I'm in the planning stages of going to Africa!  I'm so excited about the possibility and look forward to the journey, not only to Africa, but to prepare myself spiritually for what God needs me to do.  

I need to raise money to support my travel, but I know that loving the orphans at the orphanage, helping with a VBS for them, delivering donations to the children's hospital, and feeding the people in Kroo Bay will be worth every penny.  I pray that God will break my heart for what breaks his.  I need to see and feel the suffering in the world!  I can't ignore it once I experience it.  God wants us to act!

I look forward to sharing my journey to Africa.  Over the next six months, I will be working with many girls from church to fundraise, pray, and prepare for our travels.  God is working in us!