Fundraiser #1 - Dual Function Grill!

Here is our first fundraiser!

 

 

This is a Brinkmann Dual Function II Gas and Charcoal Grill that we are raffling off. It is brand new, never used, already assembled and comes with a manual and paperwork. This is what Jason won at church as part of the "Man Up" series. We already had a grill so decided to use this one as a fundraiser.

 

Here's how it works:

 

For every $10 you donate towards our adoption through my blog, your name will be entered into a drawing to win this lovely dual function grill. For example: if you donate $30... your name will be entered 3 times to win this beauty! The drawing will be held on March 18th, so that gives you two weeks to get your donations in for the raffle. Just click on the "Donate" button on my blog and it will take you directly to PayPal to donate a specific amount. On March 18th I will post a video of the drawing to see who the lucky winner is! Good luck! :)

 

Thank yall for your support!

Adoption Update #1

Since I last posted, a few things have happened!

We submitted our application to the Adoption agency and have been approved! We also filled out the application for our homestudy and things are underway in that area as well. We met with our social worker for the first time yesterday and things went wonderfully. We are scheduled to meet three more times and then it will take around 30 days for him to put together the homestudy report. The homestudy is a very important to the adoption process. Specifically, for us, it is essential in order to apply for Adoption grants. We have our first payment coming up in about a month and to be honest I'm not sure where it's coming from. We are relying on God to carry us through this process. Here pretty soon I will be coming up with some fundraisers so stay tuned for more info on that! In order to keep everyone up to date on where we are financially in the process, I listed a fee schedule on the right sidebar of my blog so everyone can see where we stand.

I've already handed out a few donation letters, but still have a couple to give out. The whole experience is so humbling, asking people for help - it's something I really struggle with but am working on it. I can't see right now how all this is going to work out but I know my God is bigger than our circumstances and will work all this out according to His perfect timing. I have to continuously remind myself that God doesn't work on my timetable and just because something isn't happening right when I want it to... doesn't mean that God will not provide for us - it's just not His timing. Please pray for us that we have peace and patience along this Journey to Moldova.

A Little Girl Waits

Almost a month ago, I posted about how God has called us to Moldova and I was unable to fully explain the full vision God has given us. After prayer, I have decided to reveal our priority calling - to adopt a little girl from Moldova.

Yes - some people may think we are crazy. We've been called that before. You know, with taking in teenage siblings and all... but we are only listening to what God is telling us. I don't expect everyone to understand, because not everyone understands my relationship with my God. This decision was not made lightly. It was frequently discussed between Jason and I, and have had much prayer over it. It is clear - we have a little girl waiting for us.

I never thought that WE would adopt. I always knew adoption was great and all but just never thought it was for us. So when God placed this on my heart, I knew it was from Him - and not something I just decided to come up with on my own. As Pastor Chuck shared about the sex trafficking in Moldova and how girls are aged out of orphanages, my heart just ached. The title of his sermon "Make Room for God's Presents" (God's gift of children) resonated with my heart. God said "Save her. Make room for her. This is what I have called you to. This is my plan for you, and I'm sorry that Jordyn had to come to me in order for you to realize your calling." I know that God is not replacing Jordyn, but instead is using her to lead us down a path he ALREADY had in mind for us. I burst into tears during service as I was overwhelmed with emotion. The orphan girls of Moldova hit home for us because after they are sold into sex slavery, they are sent to Istanbul, Turkey. Jason grew up in Turkey, this was his home so it breaks our heart that girls are sent there for this reason.

We are excited about this huge change in our lives. Mariah and Chad are supportive and excited. We plan to adopt a 2 year old girl so Jocelyn will have a sister close in age. We pray that the rest of our family is supportive of our decision and will accept our little girl as family - because that's exactly what she is... family. I had a "step-father" who never called me his step-daughter. He always claimed me as his own and I've loved him as my dad. I know that you don't need blood to be family.

In the future, we will be coming up with some fundraisers to help raise money to bring our daughter home. Some of these might include a tamale fundraiser, a bake sale, car wash, a silent auction, etc. Please keep a watch out for these fundraisers and prayerfully consider participating to help support our adoption.

What is even more awesome about our story, is that a dear friend of mine has the same calling at the same time. Darin & Christina Burrell have been on an adoption journey for nearly two years and now feel called to Moldova. Please take a moment to read their amazing story at http://www.emmacharity.blogspot.com.  We are excited to bring home our girls and that we will likely be linked for life, as our girls will have a special bond, and friendship coming from the same country.

What does this mean for the Moldova Mission Trip?

If God provides the funds for our mission trip, we are most definitely going, however our priority is bringing our daughter home. All fundraising efforts will be directed towards our adoption fund first, and then will attempt to raise money for Moldova missions. If God does not provide for us for this summer's mission trip, I know we will have an opportunity in the future to serve in our daughter's country.

Please keep our family in your prayers as we start the adoption process. Also pray for protection over our precious little one until Mommy and Daddy bring her home.

Romans 8:28 "And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him, and have been called according to his purpose."

Praise Jesus - I'm employed!

A few weeks ago, Jason and I started to consider me getting a full-time job to help offset the expenses of the mission trip, and our future plans. I went and talked to my former boss at Academy about a position that he had available. I noticed that there was a listing for 'Cashier Team Lead' - the same job I had when I was 18. This was naturally appealing because I was familiar with the job, and had already been employed there before, making it that much easier to come back. Since I've had a previous relationship with Russell, my former boss, it would make it easier for me to get the schedule that I desire. (Wednesdays off for Bible Study Fellowship and Jocelyn's Dance, Sunday mornings off for church, and morning shifts while Jocelyn is in pre-school) I am thankful that I found a preschool for Jocelyn that I love, and that I have a trustworthy friend to leave Jocelyn with the rest of the time that both Jason and I are working.

I am so excited that my job will help send us to Moldova, however we still need to fund-raise a good portion of the money that we will need. A large amount of my checks will be going towards childcare and basic living expenses, so I will continue to pray that God will provide all we need to accomplish His Will.

I have done pretty good at not letting the "mommy guilt" attack me. You know - when you tell yourself you're a bad mom for leaving your kids to work, even though that isn't remotely true. I'd be lying if I said that the thought hadn't crossed my mind, but I haven't let it consume me. I keep telling myself, "This is a season. This is temporary."  I want to do all that I can to enable us to follow God's calling, and yes - that even means getting a job!

I am thankful, and truly blessed.


Job updates to come!


Question for the readers: 
~Have you struggled with "mommy guilt?" And if so, what scriptures did you turn to or how did you overcome it?~

Transition Homes In Moldova

Transitional homes in Moldova help teens prepare for life outside of the orphanage.

Here is an informational video on the benefit of transitional housing in Moldova.

Harvest Church is not affiliated with this particular ministry, but the object of our mission is similar to what is portrayed in this video.

Called To Moldova

During church on December 9, 2012, God spoke very clearly to me. While it is not time to reveal the full vision God gave me, I will share that the country of Moldova weighed heavy on my heart. Moldova is a country in between Ukraine and Romania, and is the poorest country in Europe. It is the sex trafficking capital of the continent and recently has been known for harvesting human organs for illegal transplants around the world. Here is an informational video about the country of Moldova. My church is not affiliated with this particular ministry, but found that it had the best overall description of the country with the most accurate statistics.

Our church partners with a ministry in Moldova called New Hope International. Their most recent mission is to build transition homes for teenage girls that are nearing the end of their time in the orphanage. Once these girls turn 15-16, they are kicked out of the orphanage with little money, no life skills, and no where to go. Often their information is sold to sex traffickers so that they can be targeted. These transition houses will provide a safe, Christ-centered environment for these girls to live in. These homes will have a set of Christian parents that will love and mentor these girls. They will be taught life skills, how to survive without being exploited, and about the promise of our Savior. Our pastor was encouraging the congregation to get involved by donating to this cause, However God called me to specific action.

In June of 2013, my church will be going on a mission trip to Moldova. While we are there we will be spending time with and playing with orphans at an orphan camp. This will likely be the best week of their life. Hopefully, we will also be helping build the transition homes. It's my prayer that we will make an impact of the lives of Moldovan orphans, and that my life will also be changed for the better during this mission.

In light of the recent events in my life, and losing my precious baby girl, Jordyn Sierra, God has taught me that I am truly blessed. He's reminded me that he gives, and He most certainly takes away. I want to help those who are less fortunate than I. These orphans have been abandoned, and have no family to care for them. The least I can do is love on them and share with them the promise of eternal life with Jesus.

I initially was scared to take such an action. I mean - going half way across the world? To the sex trafficking center of Europe? That's scary, right? Then I thought to myself, "How in the world will we be able to come up with the funds to go on this trip?" But Pastor Chuck said "Don't let fear keep you from doing something good." I knew then what the right thing was. This will be a significant test of faith. Where God leads, He will provide. The next 6 months will be a time of fund raising, and it will be interesting to see how and where God manifests himself. I am so excited to share with yall this journey that God has set before us. Will you join me in prayer that God will provide all that we need in order to accomplish His Will?




...more exciting news to come.