Change the World

There are millions of children orphaned worldwide. Millions who die each year because they lack basic medical attention or enough food to fill their bellies. It's overwhelming, right? Almost easier to shut our ears to it than attempt to change things. But each number represents a name, a child just like mine, a person created in God's image.

I'm only one person. Only a stay-at-home-mom. Only Jen. What could i possibly offer? A lot. Hope. Love. A voice.

I'm joining a medical team traveling to four towns and two orphanages surrounding Lake Victoria in Kenya October 16th through the 24th to help serve the forgotten.

I can't help 10 million orphaned children, or feed an entire country. But, you and I, we could help one mom just like us, or three siblings, or six tiny babies. We might not all move to Africa, or write million dollar checks, but we need not stand paralyzed.

Won't you join me in loving our neighbors? I'm collecting the list below to bring with me and would love your help, no single item costs more than $10, most are less than $5. There are many other ways to meet the needs of these. Take a step. Make a difference. Let me know if you need help.

::80 children's underwear
::40 small umbrellas/rain jackets
::20 boxes of band-aids
::30 packages of Neosporin
::10 soccer balls
::30 frisbees
::15 children's tylenol

Along with meeting physical needs, there are spiritual needs to be met too. Would you commit the month of October to praying for the country of Kenya? Pray for a good crop this year, a peaceful government, a cure for AIDS, enough food for the poorest of the poor, caregivers for every child, others to have compassion.

I'm excited to see how God will work-- both in our hearts and in another land. Thank you for your love and support in advance!

Blessings,
Jen

PS- If you'd like to donate, but don't live down the street-- I'd be happy to send you an address. Thank you!

::Matthew 25:34+ says, "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' The the righteous will answer him, saying ' Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of thesemy brothers, you did it to me.'

18 months

every month i re-decide that haven is at the greatest stage and this month (even with meltdowns and tantrums) is no different. she is such a joy and is learning so much.
:: she says mommy and daddy really well now although she gets them mixed up
::she loves to have a job whether it's feeding beau (read 'dropping his food all over the floor two feet before the bowl') or throwing the napkins away at dinner
::i can braid her hair! okay, that's more an accomplishment for me than her, but i'm pretty proud and thankful that it looks better than i imagined my abilities would allow
::she's starting to like forgotten veggies again
::she's speaking along with her signs for many of them now-- peeze, moa (more), boat, dar (car), side (outside)
:: driving in the car at the grocery store is the highlight of the week
::beginning to interact with other babies at playdates
::loves baby dolls and feeding/caring for them. the latest thing is to hold them to the sky and then put the baby down to tickle them so. cute.
::washing hands at every given opportunity, brushing teeth, and putting on lotion are so fun
:: she's pee-peed in the potty twice now, but for the most part just likes to act it out and flush paper down the toilet
:: she's so aware and knowledgeable of so much more than she let's on to-- she remembers rules we've told her from previous days and adds motions to songs that she saw over a month ago
::she loves reading her storybook bible and having it read to her and even bows her head to pray at dinner with us
::she has beau wrapped around her finger, he'll bring her a ball to throw and play
::the gal has super sonic hearing and points to the sky every time a plane flys over-- even when we're inside. she waits for you to recognize it too, which can get a little tiresome since we live so close to three major airports!
::'mel-mo' and baby signing are still the favorite videos, but when i need to braid her hair (45 minutes +) she LOVES marley and me and waits for the dog to come on screen to point him out.
:: she loves to please and will applaud herself for a job well done and loves to get a high five for recognition