Go love...

I must confess something. Writing is not my thing. It would take me five hours to write one paragraph for an assignment in college. Sitting down and concentrating on something is difficult for me. I get easily distracted. It's true. While just writing the last two sentences I saw fireworks out my window, realized my favorite show was coming on and decided I needed a snack. So, with that said, please forgive me for not updating as often as I would like. Hopefully, I am not talking to myself and my last post encouraged you in some way. Now for the good stuff...

As a youth pastors wife, one of the coolest things about the 'job' is all the awesome experiences we get to have. My favorite thing in particular are the mission trips. This past week we got the opportunity to take our Middle School students to Memphis, Tennessee. Two words describe that trip. Life changing. I believe that most everyone that went on that trip would agree with me. Seeing the faces of beautiful, smiling little ones everyday ,who just wanted some love and attention , couldn't help but pull at your heartstrings. We started off with worshiping with a Sudanese church on Sunday morning. We would be spending most our time with them through out the 3 days we were there. Their service beautifully depicted their culture in many ways. So glad our students got to be a part of that.  We were able to hold a VBS at their church, the River Nile, on Monday and Tuesday. Getting to love on kids and teach them about our Father's love is one of my hobbies, so that was a highlight. 

We were able to spend some time at an apartment complex that housed many Sudan, Somalia and Kenya refugees, and do the same on Monday night. The children would run to us from every direction. More times than not the first thing out of their mouths would be, 'can I ride on yo back?' or 'can I get on yo neck?'. Our Middle School students didn't mind that at all! 

Tuesday night may have been the most 'out of your comfort zone' part of the trip. We served food and held a chapel service for about 150 men at a homeless shelter. We told our students that is why we came. To love God and love people. Getting out of your comfort zone is what it's all about my friends! 

Now, I need to brag on our students for a minute. We have the coolest, most loving, awesome Middle School students around. The one's that were able to go really stepped up and shared the love of Christ with everyone they saw. They never complained about anything. They did awesome! So proud of each one of them and every sponsor that took time out of their lives to help love our students and love Memphis. I think I could write pages and pages of our experience there. God was really shown to those wonderful people. 

 Here are a couple picture of our trip that one of my best friends, the very talented Kourtni Reynolds took. She captured the trip beautifully, but you can't fully understand until you actually experience it yourself. I encourage you to GO. Share Christ with every person whether they're small, old, young, big, African, Mexican, American, or Asian. Just GO.

   

Now for the part I have been waiting to scream from the mountain tops! My heart is happy my friends. Well, mine AND Dustin's hearts are very happy. Remember how I said this trip was life changing? If you don't, then shame on you. Go back and read all those words again! ;) God worked in our hearts this trip. I believe that when God shuts one door for a while, He opens another and that is exactly what He has done in our family. God gave us a burden while we were in Memphis and that burden was for orphans. For children who need a family to love them unconditionally and to take care of them.There are approximately 143,000,000 orphans in the world. My mind can't even comprehend that number. 

So, if you haven't figured it out already, Dustin and I have decided to adopt. Adoption was something that was always a part of the 'plan', but we never thought would over whelm our hearts so quickly. We understand that most people keep this between their families and don't really let it out there until it's closer. We both believe in the power of prayer. So in telling you all this exciting part of our lives we hope that you will start to pray with us as we begin the journey of raising money and the roller coaster ride of the adoption process. 

We believe that this is God's will for us. We believe that He will provide. It will take work and sacrifice, but in the end we get the precious gift to raise up a child for the Kingdom of Christ. Please be in prayer for our family, and I will use this blog to update along the way of this new journey we are starting. God is good my friends. So unbelievably good. Thank you for taking the time to read this and get a glimpse in to how wonderful this past week has been. 

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Proverbs 31:8-9