Thursday, July 7, 2011
Happy Anniversary
Happy anniversary Greg! I love you with all of my heart and am so thankful for the past eleven years! You truly lead our family. Thank you for being an inspiration to me. Your example helps me to remember to daily read His word! I am so proud of the Daddy and Husband that you are!I love you...I know this is a day early, but I won't have Internet access tomorrow.;)
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
In Washington
Well, we have made it into Dulles with some slight delays. After we were on board the plane they decided for us to get off due to weather in Washington after just a few minutes they changed their mind and had us get back on....fun times! They also decided not to let us check our donation bags all the way in to Addis so we spent a few hours dragging hundreds and hundreds of pounds of donation bags to the hotel. It was hilarious to see how we piled into the shuttle! People on bags, bags on people, people on people! We had to take a couple trips. We will be doing the same to head back in a few short hours! It has been AWESOME getting to know the team today! Looking forward to a great trip and to see what He has in store! Wow, It was such a blessing that the kids were so excited for my brothers to take them fishing this afternoon. It made leaving so much easier! Trying to figure out how to attach pics to the blog using the IPAD instead of computer. I'll keep working on it.;)if you know leave it in comments. I'll try to check back when we are waiting at the airport in the morning.
Three great verses that I read on the way here....Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 18:4..."Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5and whoever, welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me." We will meet many "this childs" in Africa. In verses 1-4 He shares that greatness is like that child... I can't wait to love on them and learn about our Lord and greatness through them. As we see how great they are in His image I pray that we will allow our lives to be changed by their example.
Lots of Love, LeAnne
Lots of Love, LeAnne
Lots of Love,
LeAnne
Three great verses that I read on the way here....Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 18:4..."Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5and whoever, welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me." We will meet many "this childs" in Africa. In verses 1-4 He shares that greatness is like that child... I can't wait to love on them and learn about our Lord and greatness through them. As we see how great they are in His image I pray that we will allow our lives to be changed by their example.
Lots of Love, LeAnne
Lots of Love, LeAnne
Lots of Love,
LeAnne
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Never in a million years would I ever dream that I would begin a blog...I am really not a writer at ALL. However, as we are four days away from leaving from Africa there are so many blessings to share in this journey already and we are not even there. THANK YOU LORD that even though I am not a writer YOU will be glorified in this blog!
I have prayed that in this journey He would change my heart and open my eyes. This prayer has definitely been answered and well we are not even there yet! Change me, Oh Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours.
Several years ago, a yearning to go serve and love on orphans in His name was placed upon my heart. Of course, I came up with so many excuses as to why I couldn't go...UNTIL, three little angels came to stay with us for one life changing weekend. We were blessed to be able to host in our home three little boys from Children of the World Choir. They had a love for our Savior that was ABSOLUTELY contagious! They may not have had much by worldly standards, but full of so much joy which only comes from Him. After the boys left, Greg and I looked at each other and agreed that there would be no more excuses and that I would go to Ethiopia. At this point, we had no idea how the Lord would provide every step of the way.
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So we said yes.....well, blessings began flowing.... Of course as a Mom I wrestled with leaving my own children, however, I know He loves them even more than I humanly can and that He would take care of them. Well the following Sunday, I was approached at church by our wonderful Children's Director and she and her Mom offered to care for the children while I was away while Greg worked...WOW thank you Lord. What a blessing!!! My kiddos will be loved on and truly cared for while I get to love on so many that don't have someone to call Mommy or Daddy.
I found out too that Ali Henderson had signed up and was going as well. How awesome to have someone to share the journey with!
Another excuse, we had was how in the world would we come up with all the money....Well, once again, He had a plan much bigger than I could have dreamed up! We decided to have a yard sale as a fundraiser....thinking about all the blessings that went along with it still brings me to tears. HE PROVIDED in SOOOO many ways not just monetarily. Okay, started to begin writing about this and well it will get a post of it's own! This verse kinda summed it up for me...Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) ~ Unto Him that is able He is to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think! His provision was beyond my wildest dreams! More than anything this weekend was a confirmation for Greg and I that He was in this and it was part of His plan. SO MANY IN SO MANY WAYS TRULY WERE HIS HANDS AND FEET! I will forever be grateful to each and every one of you. The blessing wasn't for me it was for those in Ethiopia, but let me tell you I learned from that weekend and my heart was touched forever.
VBS was full of blessings as well. Our VBS offering was to raise money to purchase sheep to provide for the children we would serve in the orphanages. The children were amazing! A total of eighteen sheep were provided during that week. Each sheep will feed 40 children....wow, that will provide for 720! They seldom are able to have meat it will be such a display of love for them to receive. It was so cool to see the children coming in each day giving from their hearts! Their excitement was bubbling out of them. BAA! BAA! :)
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Lots of Love,
LeAnne
I have prayed that in this journey He would change my heart and open my eyes. This prayer has definitely been answered and well we are not even there yet! Change me, Oh Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours.
Several years ago, a yearning to go serve and love on orphans in His name was placed upon my heart. Of course, I came up with so many excuses as to why I couldn't go...UNTIL, three little angels came to stay with us for one life changing weekend. We were blessed to be able to host in our home three little boys from Children of the World Choir. They had a love for our Savior that was ABSOLUTELY contagious! They may not have had much by worldly standards, but full of so much joy which only comes from Him. After the boys left, Greg and I looked at each other and agreed that there would be no more excuses and that I would go to Ethiopia. At this point, we had no idea how the Lord would provide every step of the way.
I found out too that Ali Henderson had signed up and was going as well. How awesome to have someone to share the journey with!
Another excuse, we had was how in the world would we come up with all the money....Well, once again, He had a plan much bigger than I could have dreamed up! We decided to have a yard sale as a fundraiser....thinking about all the blessings that went along with it still brings me to tears. HE PROVIDED in SOOOO many ways not just monetarily. Okay, started to begin writing about this and well it will get a post of it's own! This verse kinda summed it up for me...Ephesians 3:20 (KJV) ~ Unto Him that is able He is to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think! His provision was beyond my wildest dreams! More than anything this weekend was a confirmation for Greg and I that He was in this and it was part of His plan. SO MANY IN SO MANY WAYS TRULY WERE HIS HANDS AND FEET! I will forever be grateful to each and every one of you. The blessing wasn't for me it was for those in Ethiopia, but let me tell you I learned from that weekend and my heart was touched forever.
VBS was full of blessings as well. Our VBS offering was to raise money to purchase sheep to provide for the children we would serve in the orphanages. The children were amazing! A total of eighteen sheep were provided during that week. Each sheep will feed 40 children....wow, that will provide for 720! They seldom are able to have meat it will be such a display of love for them to receive. It was so cool to see the children coming in each day giving from their hearts! Their excitement was bubbling out of them. BAA! BAA! :)
I allowed myself to get worked up over the shots...however, all seven shots and two oral vaccines weren't even as bad as my last flu shot! Thank you God!
Donations have been pouring in between Ali and I we are taking three checked bags each filled to complete weight capacity with items from you all to leave with the children....soccer balls, formula, clothing, lightweight jackets, small toys, treats, socks, underwear and the list goes on. THREE hundred pounds of blessings for the children! More has been added since pic above. Thank you for providing for these children.
I want to keep sharing, but more will have to come later! There is still a list to be done and only a few more days! I plan to spend most of it with Greg, Gage and Ellie Kate soaking in every minute of time with them! :)
I heard this song the other day while listening to the tv and well it really spoke to me. I found it on You TUBE so I am going to attempt to attach it, but we'll see this is definitely my first shot at this whole blog thing! Please take a second to listen to it. Don't refuse to follow HiS call. He is placing needs in front of each of us daily here and afar...Don't Refuse! :) We are His Hands and Feet!
Lots of Love,
LeAnne
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