Friday, October 17, 2008

Encouragement in the Lord



Last night Ray and I were asked to speak at a youth discipleship group. Some of the leaders have a heart for adoption and were extremely concerned when they heard of the dire need the orphanage in Ethiopia has in regards to a lack of formula for the babies. At the end of our talk the group was informed that we will be taking as much formula to Ethiopia as they want to fund. By the end of the night we were blessed with $807.00!! We were blown away by the generosity in the room. Kids were handing me wadded up twenty dollar bills. A couple of young men gave somewhere around two hundred dollars.
Today I went to Costco and purchased 85 cans of formula. A woman who was shopping was curious about what it was for and I explained how we are going to Ethiopia to pick up our baby and did not want to go there without food for the ones left behind. She was so touched that as I was leaving the store she came up to me and gave me all her cash, about $17.00. I was so shocked that a total stranger would care about the kids I care about; I got tears in my eyes and we hugged. As I was about to start to load the formula in my car the same woman's husband and son came and insisted they would load all the product for me. Then the man dug into his pocket and handed me another $20.00! He gave me the biggest hug and told me they must have driven all the way from Idaho just to help me today. I was speechless, but not too surprised because it is clear that God loves these babies and wants them to eat. I told him that it is very possible that he just saved a child's life and he said,"I hope so." As they left I went back into the store to purchase the four more canister's of formula they had just funded. The word's from the Bible came to my mind..."True religion is this: that you take care of widows and orphans in their distress and keep ones self from being polluted by the world."
Tonight some of my kids helped my vacuum pack the formula into sealed bags so we could fit it all into the suitcases. Here are a few pics to show you the result of this unexpected blessing!! I can't wait to give it to the workers in Ethiopia, and I hope it encourages them in the Lord as much as it has encouraged me.




7 comments:

Kathyb1960 said...

WOW!!! PRAISE GOD!!! Too bad the store didn't donate some more, but that's OK. It's wonderful what happened, and I am so glad you are being "His hands extended".

God bless you on your travels, and getting your new angel. I will keep you in my prayers!

Kathy in West Texas

Anonymous said...

Incredible. Hope it all fits in your bags. What a blessing. Wilma

RickCarrico said...

God has a way about him to work in all of us. We will be excited to watch as you bring your angle back to your home. We are so happy to have been a part of such a wonderful work being done by a true angle, you. Your work is being notice by people that you will never know about and through your work, perhaps they too will realize just how much God love each one of us.
God is blessing your work,, but we all knew that.
Rick

Unknown said...

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! THAT IS SOOO GREAT!!! I LOVE THOSE PICS!!! I'm running out the door and don't have time to read it all(I will later), but I so love your kids!!! :)

Yeah for TB's!!! I can't tell you how happy I am that we are traveling together...guess I don't have to tell you though because I think you know... in fact, I think you may be even happier and not about me but about your babies!!!
Yeah!
Love from your "ham mouse pad" toting TB :)

Andrea and Peter Kidd said...

It was soooooo great talking to you yesterday. The highlight of my day!!! What a blessing you and your family is to the orphans and children in Ethiopia. Your work and generousity and heart is a true gift from the Lord and He is using you to make a HUGE difference in the lives of these precious children. We will be praying for big things next week and will rejoice with praise while watching your journey.

Love,
Andrea

Thankfulmom said...

That is wonderful! I love the pictures!

Lisa

Anna Illaine said...

mom you should check out my log!