Most of the coasters and trivets you see listed are now samples of what can be done for you. I have been very humbled by the response and cannot say thank you enough! If there is a style you like, please let me know. It may not be exactly like what you see but it will be similar. It takes anywhere between 24-48 hours to get them done and shipped depending on orders received. Know that I will work as quickly as I can for you. Thank you again for ordering and sharing! So blessed by all of you!
Remember! The Africa Series benefits Because Every Mother Matters and The China Series benefits The McDaneld Family adoption!
I have added two more Scriptures to the list. So check out the list on the Coaster and Trivet page!
Now on to Delicate Fortress Creations. If you have never heard of them! Well, let me tell you! This is an awesome advocacy store! The products sold through this online store are made by artisans who have been or are still in hard situations. Such as human trafficking, extreme poverty, forced prostitution, orphan care, and literacy programs to name just a few. You can find anything from journals to clothing (like punjammies!) to blankets to jewelry to body products. I love what they do! I love what they stand for! I love that they are willing to help people in their fundraising for adoptions or missions trips! This a mom out of Pennsylvania who had to do something! And here she is doing it! The artisans are from all over the world! So, from now until Feb. 7th, for anyone who purchases anything from Delicate Fortress and uses the coupon code TEAM BEMM at checkout, 30% of your purchase will go to Because Every Mother Matters' team going to Ethiopia in March. So will you go take a look? Shop? Every little bit helps! And what's better! You get to help not only the artisan but the team! A double whammy with just one purchase! Purpose driven shopping at it best!
Again, thank you and so very blessed by all of you!
STWTHE,
Lsurie
Showing posts with label bemm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bemm. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Letting love in
The days flew by while in Ethiopia. To be honest, my first few days, I didnt think I would make it through two weeks of climbing mountain sides to visit mamas. Hearing their stories broke my heart and yet I wouldn't allow myself to get emotional or feel much. I needed to be clinical and yet, that wasn't working. The moment we would walk into a home that was 1/3 the size of my living room, that housed 5 people in one room, I couldn't escape my selfishness. My need for things to make me complete. I was ashamed as I thought of my excess and their need. Beginning with the first mama that we visited, God kept whispering,"Let love in.". I hadn't realized how much I was holding back from these ladies. Letting love in would mean I would have to allow their story to get personal. To really touch my heart. Was that even possible?
I think the first day we visited 14 mamas. My "job" was to document their story. To write it all down. As much detail as possible. This wasn't about me and as soon as I got that deep in my soul, I was able to see more. Hear more. See behind the surface things these ladies wanted us to hear and start seeing the truth. Though they were not verbalized. What I saw was pain. Humiliation. Desperation. Bits of hope, though for some, hope was fading quickly. I saw so much beauty in these women. All I wanted to do was grab hold of them and tell them that they weren't failures for the things that happen. Just because their husbands were te.fa (gone) didn't make them unworthy. They were qo.n.jo (beautiful). It would not have been a lie. It would have been a truth they so needed to hear and know.
Letting love in. That is one of the hardest things to do in this world. So much hurt happens. Forgiveness sometimes comes in layers. What we often think is love is something that is far less. Letting love in means giving of yourself. No holds bar. Giving all of yourself without holding back. Without wanting something in return. Isn't that what Jesus did for us? Isn't this what God was asking me to do for these ladies? Letting love in - that was what was happening with each step up a steep hill. Each step took me to a new place, a new level that would allow me to feel for this woman who just needed a little encouragement. Even after falling, scraping my knee, twisting my ankle, I wouldn't allow my pain to overshadow the hearing of their stories. Oh, don't get me wrong! I wanted to quit. I cried because it hurt. I wanted to be done with this trip. It was the hardest thing I think I've ever done and we were only on day TWO! I'd much rather have given birth naturally 4 times again than take one more step up a mountainside. But soemthing welled up inside of me. Maybe part of it was pride. Being the oldest member of the team and the least in shape may have been part of it, but I'd like to believe it was because I had the anointing of the Lord on me at this point, and knew he had entrusted me with a voice for these women.
So we bandaged me up, grabbed a coke along with a quick rest and moved on out to visit more mamas. By the end of the day, I was tired. I was still hurting. I was heartbroken. I was sad. Yet, I was happy and very thankful for the opportunity to get a glimpse into the lives of these women and their families. I knew I was doing what God asked me to do, LET LOVE IN.
STWTHE,
Laurie
I think the first day we visited 14 mamas. My "job" was to document their story. To write it all down. As much detail as possible. This wasn't about me and as soon as I got that deep in my soul, I was able to see more. Hear more. See behind the surface things these ladies wanted us to hear and start seeing the truth. Though they were not verbalized. What I saw was pain. Humiliation. Desperation. Bits of hope, though for some, hope was fading quickly. I saw so much beauty in these women. All I wanted to do was grab hold of them and tell them that they weren't failures for the things that happen. Just because their husbands were te.fa (gone) didn't make them unworthy. They were qo.n.jo (beautiful). It would not have been a lie. It would have been a truth they so needed to hear and know.
Letting love in. That is one of the hardest things to do in this world. So much hurt happens. Forgiveness sometimes comes in layers. What we often think is love is something that is far less. Letting love in means giving of yourself. No holds bar. Giving all of yourself without holding back. Without wanting something in return. Isn't that what Jesus did for us? Isn't this what God was asking me to do for these ladies? Letting love in - that was what was happening with each step up a steep hill. Each step took me to a new place, a new level that would allow me to feel for this woman who just needed a little encouragement. Even after falling, scraping my knee, twisting my ankle, I wouldn't allow my pain to overshadow the hearing of their stories. Oh, don't get me wrong! I wanted to quit. I cried because it hurt. I wanted to be done with this trip. It was the hardest thing I think I've ever done and we were only on day TWO! I'd much rather have given birth naturally 4 times again than take one more step up a mountainside. But soemthing welled up inside of me. Maybe part of it was pride. Being the oldest member of the team and the least in shape may have been part of it, but I'd like to believe it was because I had the anointing of the Lord on me at this point, and knew he had entrusted me with a voice for these women.
So we bandaged me up, grabbed a coke along with a quick rest and moved on out to visit more mamas. By the end of the day, I was tired. I was still hurting. I was heartbroken. I was sad. Yet, I was happy and very thankful for the opportunity to get a glimpse into the lives of these women and their families. I knew I was doing what God asked me to do, LET LOVE IN.
STWTHE,
Laurie
Thursday, October 27, 2011
First impressions
We all know that first impressions are important. They can open doors that can take you on an adventure or close them to great possibilities. I don't give great first impressions so I really try hard not to base people off of this one meeting. Some days you are having an off day so that impression is not so great, and some give great first impressions and you find that they really aren't all that.
But Ethiopia. My first impression was NOTHING that I expected and a whole lot more! I never expected to walk off the plane and feel her arms embrace this girl from Texas like a long lost daughter. To feel the kisses on my cheeks from this mama I'd never met before was such a sweet moment. Ethiopia! The home I'd longed for for so long. I remember as we were driving through the city of Addis, thinking, "I wont feel this way in just a few days. This is new. Exciting. I'm really here." As the days started to pass, I kept waiting for the awe, the comfort of home, the feeling of belonging to fade. But they didn't. If anything, the intensity of that first meeting kept growing. I would stare out the window as we drove from place to place thanking God for the peace of being in this country. For the opportunity to meet some amazing people. I still wasnt sure why I was on this trip. I just knew for the first time, in a long time, I felt alive. One of the things said on this trip was that there was an awakening happening in us. I have to agree with that statement. Now, PLEASE HEAR ME! I LOVE MY FAMILY! I love being mom and wife. I know that is my first ministry. I'm not good at either of them but those two things are the things that God placed in my lap first and I take them very seriously. But to know you were created for something else and to find the place where you fit, it awakens your spirit. It gives you new purpose. Because the truth of it all is, at some point I will have an empty nest. My kids will all be grown (Bella will be gone in as soon as a few short years) and then what? Please know, I'm not making excuses for my journey either. I just know this is a seed God planted at least 5 years ago, has watered in different ways and now is cultivating it in a very big way.
Ethiopia. An amazing country. Amazing people. Amazing team. I was told I might leave a part of my heart there. Well, I most definetly did so. It's hard coming home knowing that part of me was left behind. A big part.
STWTHE,
Laurie
But Ethiopia. My first impression was NOTHING that I expected and a whole lot more! I never expected to walk off the plane and feel her arms embrace this girl from Texas like a long lost daughter. To feel the kisses on my cheeks from this mama I'd never met before was such a sweet moment. Ethiopia! The home I'd longed for for so long. I remember as we were driving through the city of Addis, thinking, "I wont feel this way in just a few days. This is new. Exciting. I'm really here." As the days started to pass, I kept waiting for the awe, the comfort of home, the feeling of belonging to fade. But they didn't. If anything, the intensity of that first meeting kept growing. I would stare out the window as we drove from place to place thanking God for the peace of being in this country. For the opportunity to meet some amazing people. I still wasnt sure why I was on this trip. I just knew for the first time, in a long time, I felt alive. One of the things said on this trip was that there was an awakening happening in us. I have to agree with that statement. Now, PLEASE HEAR ME! I LOVE MY FAMILY! I love being mom and wife. I know that is my first ministry. I'm not good at either of them but those two things are the things that God placed in my lap first and I take them very seriously. But to know you were created for something else and to find the place where you fit, it awakens your spirit. It gives you new purpose. Because the truth of it all is, at some point I will have an empty nest. My kids will all be grown (Bella will be gone in as soon as a few short years) and then what? Please know, I'm not making excuses for my journey either. I just know this is a seed God planted at least 5 years ago, has watered in different ways and now is cultivating it in a very big way.
Ethiopia. An amazing country. Amazing people. Amazing team. I was told I might leave a part of my heart there. Well, I most definetly did so. It's hard coming home knowing that part of me was left behind. A big part.
STWTHE,
Laurie
Saturday, August 20, 2011
BEMM BLITZ!!!
This is an addition to: I am adding to the BEMM BLITZ the request to help purchase an ambulance for 24 rural villages where the women are making on the high side a 15 hour walk to deliver their babies. Would you consider making a donation to them towards that ambulance?
It's time for a BEMM BLITZ!!! Much needed items are listed here for the October trip!!! You don't even have to go to the store. Just click the link, click the item you want to donate, pay and you are done!!! The items will be shipped directly BEMM's Medical Director. How cool is that? So what do you say? Can you help me with the BEMM BLITZ? Share the link. Help BEMM stock a clinic and take 500 birthing kits to Africa in October? This would be an awesome blessing to not only the BEMM staff and the clinic, but to the mamas and babies whose lives are saved!!! STWTHE, Laurie |
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
6 Weeks
So, it's 6 Weeks out from travel and I am NO WHERE near having the money to go to Ethiopia. I'm working as hard as I can as fast as I can to make purses. I've sent out letters. I'm begging people to share my links. I'm handing out business cards. I'm carrying around some of my bags. A Scentsy Fundraiser. I'm doing everything I can think of to raise money. Some of it, I'm doing in my own strength. Some of it, I think is totally God. But when I think of all of the women who need this money more than I do, I just weep. I read a guest post last night on my friend Steffany's blog. It really made me stop and think. You can read that HERE.
This is what went swirling through my head. 1 in 11 women die in E. Africa due to pregnancy related causes. Those are just numbers to all of us. It's sad. It's in E. Africa. It's across the ocean. How does it affect me? As I sat sewing one of the bags last night, God showed me something. He showed me faces of 11 mamas that I personally know. He showed me Karla, Suzy, Steffany, Holly, Gwen, Julee, Monika, Lorraine, Amy, Deanna, and Jessica. He said,"Now, Laurie, all of these women have children. Some are young kiddos, some are older. What would happen to their child(ren) if ONE - you choose the ONE- died while giving birth to their youngest or only child? What if their husband wasn't around for some reason? What if a family member couldn't take that child in? What if that child had become an orphan the moment he/she came into this world? " I sat there and let this all mull around in my head. I sat there and thought (as I pricked my fingers over and over and over while drawing blood on some of those pricks) about each of those children. Between the 11 families I thought about there are approximately 50 kids. FIFTY!!!!! Fifty kids that wouldn't have a mama if these statistics were true here in the U.S. If each of these mamas were the one in 11. Would we take notice then? Would we be moved to action then? If it were your best gal pal- what would you do? Would you move heaven and earth to go and provide for her life to be saved so that SHE could raise her children? The answer for me has become a yes.
I want to go to Ethiopia. There is no doubt in that. I'm not going to lie and say anything different. I can't give you a clear answer as to why except that I do believe this is a TOTAL God thing. But what I want more is for these mamas to have sterile birthing kits. To have an ambulance that will take them from point A to point B in less than an hour instead of having to be hog tied to a branch and carried 5 hours to the nearest hospital in the hopes of saving mother and child. What I want is for mama to raise her babies.
No, I don't think this will solve the orphan crisis. I don't pretend to believe that at all. What I do believe is that we can do SOMETHING to help to not add 50 (or 25 million) more children to it. When you hear the men say,"Save our women" as what was told to Steffany, don't you think we should move into action? What can you do to help? One is to send me. If you don't want to purchase anything, I do have a donate button on the side bar. If you don't want to help me out, that's ok. If I'm suppose to go, I will go. HERE is a list of needs for BEMM. Would you consider donating to BEMM.org for any of the items listed or towards the ambulance that is needed to help save these mamas and their babies? Or (shameless plug here) HOW 'BOUT ALL THREE? =0)
BTW, I just put up two new bags this morning and will hopefully have one more by the end of the day. So, check back. There are still many scrabble tile necklaces available and if one has sold that you like and you don't see one like it available, send me a message and I might be able to get one made like it. Thanks for stopping by. For reading and thinking and praying about what it is God would have you do. Blessings for a beautifully God inspired day.
STWTHE,
Laurie
This is what went swirling through my head. 1 in 11 women die in E. Africa due to pregnancy related causes. Those are just numbers to all of us. It's sad. It's in E. Africa. It's across the ocean. How does it affect me? As I sat sewing one of the bags last night, God showed me something. He showed me faces of 11 mamas that I personally know. He showed me Karla, Suzy, Steffany, Holly, Gwen, Julee, Monika, Lorraine, Amy, Deanna, and Jessica. He said,"Now, Laurie, all of these women have children. Some are young kiddos, some are older. What would happen to their child(ren) if ONE - you choose the ONE- died while giving birth to their youngest or only child? What if their husband wasn't around for some reason? What if a family member couldn't take that child in? What if that child had become an orphan the moment he/she came into this world? " I sat there and let this all mull around in my head. I sat there and thought (as I pricked my fingers over and over and over while drawing blood on some of those pricks) about each of those children. Between the 11 families I thought about there are approximately 50 kids. FIFTY!!!!! Fifty kids that wouldn't have a mama if these statistics were true here in the U.S. If each of these mamas were the one in 11. Would we take notice then? Would we be moved to action then? If it were your best gal pal- what would you do? Would you move heaven and earth to go and provide for her life to be saved so that SHE could raise her children? The answer for me has become a yes.
I want to go to Ethiopia. There is no doubt in that. I'm not going to lie and say anything different. I can't give you a clear answer as to why except that I do believe this is a TOTAL God thing. But what I want more is for these mamas to have sterile birthing kits. To have an ambulance that will take them from point A to point B in less than an hour instead of having to be hog tied to a branch and carried 5 hours to the nearest hospital in the hopes of saving mother and child. What I want is for mama to raise her babies.
No, I don't think this will solve the orphan crisis. I don't pretend to believe that at all. What I do believe is that we can do SOMETHING to help to not add 50 (or 25 million) more children to it. When you hear the men say,"Save our women" as what was told to Steffany, don't you think we should move into action? What can you do to help? One is to send me. If you don't want to purchase anything, I do have a donate button on the side bar. If you don't want to help me out, that's ok. If I'm suppose to go, I will go. HERE is a list of needs for BEMM. Would you consider donating to BEMM.org for any of the items listed or towards the ambulance that is needed to help save these mamas and their babies? Or (shameless plug here) HOW 'BOUT ALL THREE? =0)
BTW, I just put up two new bags this morning and will hopefully have one more by the end of the day. So, check back. There are still many scrabble tile necklaces available and if one has sold that you like and you don't see one like it available, send me a message and I might be able to get one made like it. Thanks for stopping by. For reading and thinking and praying about what it is God would have you do. Blessings for a beautifully God inspired day.
STWTHE,
Laurie
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
ETHIOPIA or bust!
Most of you probably won't notice the changes but some may. I'm making a few changes due to my fundraising for my mission trip to Ethiopia with Because Every Mother Matters. I've added a donate button on the side bar for anyone who would like to help me raise the $3000 to go love on some mamas, help build some stuff, restock a clinic and hike up and down a mountain that is apparently pretty steep to go into a remote region of Ethiopia. :) For those who would like something for that donation, I'm still making purses (I have removed the bags and fabric pages) and have a few that I have not put up on here as of yet. I will be posting soon - I hope. What you see is what will be available. I also have a friend who is helping me by doing a Scentsy fundraiser through the month of August. She will not place the order until Aug. 30th. The cool thing about this is, most of the products are 10% off this month. There are a few things that are not and they asterisked, but other than that, it's on sale! So will you go here? This will bless both she and I.
I'm thinking of a few ways to raise the funds to go. So, yes, this is a shameless plea for help. Help in spreading the word. Help financially. For prayer. For ideas. Im open to just about anything!
Y'all, I REALLY REALLY want to go. I didn't have any idea how bad until I was talking about it with my husband and tears came to my eyes at just the prospect of going or not going. It's scary to think about leaving my family for several days and being across the world in a foreign land and yet, my heart longs to go in such a way that I have no words to describe. To see, smell, work, play, laugh, eat alongside these people. To have an opportunity to come back and share all that I have experienced and really get the word out. To impact just one life. Most importantly, to share the love of Jesus with these people. I want to be HIS hands and feet. I want to see the world through His eyes.
With just the purses, I have to sale at least 200 purses. I have sold two. I'm willing to do this but I NEED your help.
BTW, any monies raised above what I need will go straight to BEMM to help in providing the birthing kits, stocking the clinic, buying the ambulance for the village of Mayera. However, they deem necessary to use the money.
Again, thank you for your support.
STWTHE,
Laurie
I'm thinking of a few ways to raise the funds to go. So, yes, this is a shameless plea for help. Help in spreading the word. Help financially. For prayer. For ideas. Im open to just about anything!
Y'all, I REALLY REALLY want to go. I didn't have any idea how bad until I was talking about it with my husband and tears came to my eyes at just the prospect of going or not going. It's scary to think about leaving my family for several days and being across the world in a foreign land and yet, my heart longs to go in such a way that I have no words to describe. To see, smell, work, play, laugh, eat alongside these people. To have an opportunity to come back and share all that I have experienced and really get the word out. To impact just one life. Most importantly, to share the love of Jesus with these people. I want to be HIS hands and feet. I want to see the world through His eyes.
With just the purses, I have to sale at least 200 purses. I have sold two. I'm willing to do this but I NEED your help.
BTW, any monies raised above what I need will go straight to BEMM to help in providing the birthing kits, stocking the clinic, buying the ambulance for the village of Mayera. However, they deem necessary to use the money.
Again, thank you for your support.
STWTHE,
Laurie
Friday, July 29, 2011
Send Me!
Ok, so this is not going to be your average fundraising letter. This is going to be an opportunity for most of you to get a chance to see into my heart and laugh at me a bit. I may even be called a fraud by some. I pray that is not the case. I pray it's an opportunity for me to bring awareness to a need in our world.
Truth be told, I’m excited about an opportunity to go on a trip with a woman that I admire much. Why? Because she's a woman whose heart reflects Jesus. She's a woman of action. She's a woman who will not allow the impossible to stop her. She believes in a great BIG God. To be her friend gives you an opportunity to see Him move in her life and in those she helps. She's the brainchild, founder and director of Because Every Mother Matters (BEMM - for short). She's intuitive. She's authentic. She's passionate. So, why not go with Steffany Boster to Ethiopia? Especially if it's your first one? I can tell you it will be something that will be adventurous as well as unforgettable!
If I were you, I would probably be thinking, “Laurie is going on a mission trip?” That’s a completely fair thought. I keep asking myself that too. I’m not the first person people think of when you would think of as someone wanting to go to a place that's even hotter than our current city. In fact, a couple a years ago, I told Kevin that there was not a chance I would go somewhere where it was even hotter than here. I'm not the first person you would think of that would give up her comforts of home to go where comfort is not in abundance. Well, God works miracles in the heart of His people. When He wants to do a work, He will circumcise that heart of yours until it matches up to His. Be careful what you pray for! He did it to me. :)
Yes, I’m a busy mom of four. We homeschool. We are becoming more active in our church (we just moved again so that's why I say we are becoming active). A wife of a soldier. Is it a good time to go? Don't think I can answer that with anything other than a "No." But I’m not sure if there is ever a “good time” to go on a mission trip. I could probably come up with a list of reasons why I shouldn’t go, but I keep coming back to the one reason I should – God loves people. He loves every mama out there. Did you know that 1 in 11 women die due to pregnancy related causes in Africa? In addition, this is one step in helping the orphan crisis. Will it solve it? Absolutely not! But it will help in not adding to the 163 million and growing number of orphans in this world. None of this okay! None of it is something that I can stand by and be a spectator of anymore.
I’ve been trying to live that in the life I currently have. I mean it’s easy to pray for far off places and far off people, seeing it for your own eyes- well, I know it's another story. Loving who you live and work with is a bit easier, though still a challenge. When you see it, when you live it, it's real. It's easy to be motivated to do something for the person right next door. Far off places; it's a picture you can detach from. It's easy to say, "It's not my problem." I’ve been trying to see my life as a mission field, not just this trip. It's been interesting to see the way God has used this new approach to everything from the way I interact with people at the grocery store to the way I treat people in traffic. But now, it’s time to take the things I’ve learned to a new level. To another continent. It's time for me to move outside of my comfort zone. To become a woman of ACTION! To really live out my faith and become the hands and feet of Jesus.
I’m going to Ethiopia for 10 days. Going wasn’t a hard decision. When it comes down to it, Jesus laid out a pretty simple religion for us, didn’t He? Love God, love others, and love ourselves. Nope, deciding to go was easy. Paying for it however, well, that's a challenge.
To be honest with you, I just don’t have $3000 laying about the house. So, instead of selling my plasma 87 times, I decided to write and ask for something I don’t usually ask for - money. I’d love if you could financially support me on this mission trip. A little, a lot, any would be great. And if you want to know more about BEMM, please email me, message me on Facebook, give me a call or go to www.BEMM.org.
If you could pray about the trip, that would be awesome! As much as God loves mission trips, other people don’t. There will be a whole host of obstacles that pop up (as they already have) and entangle themselves around our ankles as we prepare to go love the people of Ethiopia. Knowing that you are praying would mean a lot to me.
Thanks for reading this and giving me an opportunity to share about BEMM, a program I truly love along with the women behind it.
STWTHE,
Laurie
Truth be told, I’m excited about an opportunity to go on a trip with a woman that I admire much. Why? Because she's a woman whose heart reflects Jesus. She's a woman of action. She's a woman who will not allow the impossible to stop her. She believes in a great BIG God. To be her friend gives you an opportunity to see Him move in her life and in those she helps. She's the brainchild, founder and director of Because Every Mother Matters (BEMM - for short). She's intuitive. She's authentic. She's passionate. So, why not go with Steffany Boster to Ethiopia? Especially if it's your first one? I can tell you it will be something that will be adventurous as well as unforgettable!
If I were you, I would probably be thinking, “Laurie is going on a mission trip?” That’s a completely fair thought. I keep asking myself that too. I’m not the first person people think of when you would think of as someone wanting to go to a place that's even hotter than our current city. In fact, a couple a years ago, I told Kevin that there was not a chance I would go somewhere where it was even hotter than here. I'm not the first person you would think of that would give up her comforts of home to go where comfort is not in abundance. Well, God works miracles in the heart of His people. When He wants to do a work, He will circumcise that heart of yours until it matches up to His. Be careful what you pray for! He did it to me. :)
Yes, I’m a busy mom of four. We homeschool. We are becoming more active in our church (we just moved again so that's why I say we are becoming active). A wife of a soldier. Is it a good time to go? Don't think I can answer that with anything other than a "No." But I’m not sure if there is ever a “good time” to go on a mission trip. I could probably come up with a list of reasons why I shouldn’t go, but I keep coming back to the one reason I should – God loves people. He loves every mama out there. Did you know that 1 in 11 women die due to pregnancy related causes in Africa? In addition, this is one step in helping the orphan crisis. Will it solve it? Absolutely not! But it will help in not adding to the 163 million and growing number of orphans in this world. None of this okay! None of it is something that I can stand by and be a spectator of anymore.
I’ve been trying to live that in the life I currently have. I mean it’s easy to pray for far off places and far off people, seeing it for your own eyes- well, I know it's another story. Loving who you live and work with is a bit easier, though still a challenge. When you see it, when you live it, it's real. It's easy to be motivated to do something for the person right next door. Far off places; it's a picture you can detach from. It's easy to say, "It's not my problem." I’ve been trying to see my life as a mission field, not just this trip. It's been interesting to see the way God has used this new approach to everything from the way I interact with people at the grocery store to the way I treat people in traffic. But now, it’s time to take the things I’ve learned to a new level. To another continent. It's time for me to move outside of my comfort zone. To become a woman of ACTION! To really live out my faith and become the hands and feet of Jesus.
I’m going to Ethiopia for 10 days. Going wasn’t a hard decision. When it comes down to it, Jesus laid out a pretty simple religion for us, didn’t He? Love God, love others, and love ourselves. Nope, deciding to go was easy. Paying for it however, well, that's a challenge.
To be honest with you, I just don’t have $3000 laying about the house. So, instead of selling my plasma 87 times, I decided to write and ask for something I don’t usually ask for - money. I’d love if you could financially support me on this mission trip. A little, a lot, any would be great. And if you want to know more about BEMM, please email me, message me on Facebook, give me a call or go to www.BEMM.org.
If you could pray about the trip, that would be awesome! As much as God loves mission trips, other people don’t. There will be a whole host of obstacles that pop up (as they already have) and entangle themselves around our ankles as we prepare to go love the people of Ethiopia. Knowing that you are praying would mean a lot to me.
Thanks for reading this and giving me an opportunity to share about BEMM, a program I truly love along with the women behind it.
STWTHE,
Laurie
Monday, January 31, 2011
This post is NOT about me =0)
Go figure!!! I would love to share some stuff with you but I feel I must mention some folks who could really use your help first. These are just three of the families that I have come to meet (in real life) and absolutely LOVE!!! They all do such radical things in living out the love of Jesus in tangible ways.
Up first is my dear friend Steffany over at And They Lived Happily Ever After and is behind Because Every Mother Matters (you know the one, where you can purchase those awesome tacky headbands and they have several other things to purchase there as well - the new BEMM necklaces, I bought one and each one is unique and original!) Well, Funky Fish Designs creators Dawn and Cathy (who also made the necklaces!), made this awesome bracelet as a giveaway. All you have to do to enter is donate ANY amount ($.01 - which I pray you would be more generous than that or $1000). Whatever God puts on your heart to do. The kicker is, your chance to enter is dwindling by the second. The giveaway ends tomorrow night so don't hesitate!!! Go here to enter to win!!!!
The second must need mention is to help bring home FOUR girls from Ethiopia!! Yes, that's right, a sibling group of FOUR has a chance to come home. If you will go to the McKenzie Family blog, donate whatever God puts on your heart and you could enter to win by suggesting a name or 4 for the girls, you could be entered to win an awesome T-shirt from 147millionorphans.com!!! So get in on it. Help bring these girls home!!
The last is, as my friend Amy ( another of my favorite families who are the real deal!) put it best,"Let's do (without) lunch." Many of you know the Block family. You know their heart. You know they are passionate about the orphan. Amy's daughter Addisyn decided to do some radical living this year and has been true to her word. She has inspired many of us to do the same. I mean, c'mon now? If a 15 year old can do with out in this day and age, can't us "older" folk join in? I say, "I'm all in!!" So, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, Amy has asked us to join in NOT having lunch. Whatever you would have spent on lunch for that day, donate it to the Adami Tulu Preschool in Ethiopia. What a wonderful, simple way to touch the heart of Jesus? You can go here and read all about what Amy is suggesting if you haven't already checked it out.
So there you have it, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!!!! It's all about the orphan and the people who are trying to make a difference in some way. Tell me, what are you doing? How can I help you? I'd love to know.
STWTHE,
Laurie
Up first is my dear friend Steffany over at And They Lived Happily Ever After and is behind Because Every Mother Matters (you know the one, where you can purchase those awesome tacky headbands and they have several other things to purchase there as well - the new BEMM necklaces, I bought one and each one is unique and original!) Well, Funky Fish Designs creators Dawn and Cathy (who also made the necklaces!), made this awesome bracelet as a giveaway. All you have to do to enter is donate ANY amount ($.01 - which I pray you would be more generous than that or $1000). Whatever God puts on your heart to do. The kicker is, your chance to enter is dwindling by the second. The giveaway ends tomorrow night so don't hesitate!!! Go here to enter to win!!!!
The second must need mention is to help bring home FOUR girls from Ethiopia!! Yes, that's right, a sibling group of FOUR has a chance to come home. If you will go to the McKenzie Family blog, donate whatever God puts on your heart and you could enter to win by suggesting a name or 4 for the girls, you could be entered to win an awesome T-shirt from 147millionorphans.com!!! So get in on it. Help bring these girls home!!
The last is, as my friend Amy ( another of my favorite families who are the real deal!) put it best,"Let's do (without) lunch." Many of you know the Block family. You know their heart. You know they are passionate about the orphan. Amy's daughter Addisyn decided to do some radical living this year and has been true to her word. She has inspired many of us to do the same. I mean, c'mon now? If a 15 year old can do with out in this day and age, can't us "older" folk join in? I say, "I'm all in!!" So, Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011, Amy has asked us to join in NOT having lunch. Whatever you would have spent on lunch for that day, donate it to the Adami Tulu Preschool in Ethiopia. What a wonderful, simple way to touch the heart of Jesus? You can go here and read all about what Amy is suggesting if you haven't already checked it out.
So there you have it, IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!!!! It's all about the orphan and the people who are trying to make a difference in some way. Tell me, what are you doing? How can I help you? I'd love to know.
STWTHE,
Laurie
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Go Redical
Ok, so I have this friend that I just absolutely adore. Truth is I have several but this one I have to say is one of the ones that I don't have to look up to while standing next to her. Literally. She's just my height but she is bigger than life. When I actually got to meet her while in Austin almost 2 months ago now, I was actually shocked at her height. I was certain that she was 9 feet tall. Seriously. She comes off bigger than life when you read her words. But alas, she's a 9 ft tall woman stuck in a 5'2" body. Full of heart, love, spunkiness, and all about spreading Jesus to the least of these. (I actually met 5 or 6 ladies that weekend that meet this criteria and loved every one of them) I love her heart. I love the way she just goes for the gusto. No holding back. No holds barred. There is no territory she us unwilling to go for the glory of God. So, when I read her blog post just a bit ago, I knew I had to help her spread the word. This is important. This is necessary. This isn't helping just one organization, this is helping 2. Because Every Mother Matters (BEMM) and Project Hopeful. This is helping women, mamas, keep their babies. Can you imagine having to make a desperate decision to give up your child because you couldn't make money to support them and there are no government assistance programs? Or there was no hope for you because of three letters and a sign~ HIV+ ? All because you couldn't get the medicines to prolong your life? The truth of the matter is, HIV is something that can be managed. HIV can only be transmitted through s*xual intercourse, sharing needles, syringes, rinse water, or other equipment used to prepare illicit dr*gs for injection or from mother to child during child birth or breastfeeding. (jump here or here or here if you are interested in reading more about HIV/AIDS). No one, NOT ONE MOTHER should have to choose between life and death for their child. NOT ONE MOTHER should have to give up their child because they can't get the medicine to help them live. I know, we live in a fallen world. Mothers and fathers will die because of this and give up their children because money can't be made, or because they have something wrong with them, and the list goes on and on. But what if they didn't have to? What if because people like you and me, gave up $5 or $10 or $100 of what would help make us comfortable and gave to what would make a difference in someone else's life. A child's life. A family's life. Think how you would feel if you lost your mom? If she had to make that dreaded decision to give you life while she lost hers?
I'm not trying to badger you or guilt you into giving to either of these programs. I'm not asking you to do this for me. I'm asking you to look outside of yourself, to actually put yourself in one of these mama's shoes and really consider what you would do. I have been walking this road. I've been asking myself these questions because I have had to. So, I am asking you to really think about it. If this were you having to make these decisions, would you want someone on the other side of the world, who didn't know you, but could be the hand of Jesus, helping you? Let me ask it in this way: What if it were you who was dieing of cancer and your only hope was a bone marrow transplant? What if the only match was someone sitting in (I'll let you fill in the blank since I don't know where you live but make it on the other side of the world)? Would you want them to do it for you? If the answer is yes, then the answer should be yes to helping these mamas. The answer should be yes to choosing to give life even to someone you don't know.
I know it's the holiday season. Thanksgiving is next week. Then we go on to celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Saviour. We are all thinking about what we want to have under that Christmas tree this year. Isn't the greatest gift we can give is the gift of life? The gift of a family being able to stay together? We have been given life and if you are a follower of Jesus, you have it abundantly.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
I believe that this would bless the Father's heart. That's the desire of my heart today is to bless Him abundantly.
STWTHE,
Laurie
I'm not trying to badger you or guilt you into giving to either of these programs. I'm not asking you to do this for me. I'm asking you to look outside of yourself, to actually put yourself in one of these mama's shoes and really consider what you would do. I have been walking this road. I've been asking myself these questions because I have had to. So, I am asking you to really think about it. If this were you having to make these decisions, would you want someone on the other side of the world, who didn't know you, but could be the hand of Jesus, helping you? Let me ask it in this way: What if it were you who was dieing of cancer and your only hope was a bone marrow transplant? What if the only match was someone sitting in (I'll let you fill in the blank since I don't know where you live but make it on the other side of the world)? Would you want them to do it for you? If the answer is yes, then the answer should be yes to helping these mamas. The answer should be yes to choosing to give life even to someone you don't know.
I know it's the holiday season. Thanksgiving is next week. Then we go on to celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Saviour. We are all thinking about what we want to have under that Christmas tree this year. Isn't the greatest gift we can give is the gift of life? The gift of a family being able to stay together? We have been given life and if you are a follower of Jesus, you have it abundantly.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10
I believe that this would bless the Father's heart. That's the desire of my heart today is to bless Him abundantly.
STWTHE,
Laurie
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