Monday in awassa, Ethiopia

I can not believe that as of tomorrow we have one day left here in awassa.  Time has flown by.  We have seen the lord in many ways this trip.  We have met many people.  Ethiopians, Americans, Canadians, Swedish, Germans, and the list goes on...I think my favorite part about this country is that this country is warm...even though at times your not exactly sure what is being said, there is still usually a smile on each others faces while trying to understand. I know I as an American can get caught up in my day to day routine and just put my head down and continue to grind through my day without even having to be social to anyone...that is not the case here. Today is the first day we went out on our own into town.  Kinda scared about it for the first couple of days...but after the first couple of days I was ready.   We went and got coffee....oh yum!  Let me just say we went to time cafe and got a double coffee, large 2 ltr bottle of water, and 4 glass bottle sodas and we paid $4.00!  I'm so gonna miss this!  We then ran across the street for our new friend Ellen...she needed some bread to make the kids in the children's home some radish sandwiches....I just so happened to make some butter [a VERY hot commodity here] and all she needed was the butter, bread and radishes which they grew in the garden at the children's home....after we got our bread we headed back to the house and then went and saw the kids again for the 3rd time that day.  Those kids are just so precious!  Each one has captured a place in my heart.   There's [4] that have especially captured my heart....one is a 10 year old girl named marta...her sweet spirit has won my heart...em really enjoyed playing with her today so much...holding hands, playing soccer together....while we were inside em and the girls were outside playing and I could hear all of there belly laughs which was so great to hear! The next one who has also captured my heart is lantou.... She is so precious! I could just listen to her talk for days...she is so sweet and loves Jesus! Soon I will post a video of her love for Jesus... The next one is amanu...this little boy is usually a sad boy, who doesn't smile much, but has been so smiley since we've seen him...he is the little boy that had malaria pretty severe and almost died...he is I believe only 2...oh how I love to see his face light up when we come in the gates...and he just loves to sit on my lap and wear my sunglasses and bracelets.... And then there is mieret...she is beautiful and sweet and just turned one year old...and of course she keeps with my theory of the cuter they are the fiestier they are...she loves to play hard to get.... I could go on about each child there....but I won't this time.... On Sunday tony got to teach at the children's home...that was cool...a little put on the spot, but a blessing for sure.... Tonight was our first walk home hearing the hippos!  That was sweet! Tomorrow [tuesday] on the agenda is lunch with our friends..Rachel and argaw and Ellen [which I'm sure they must be sick of us by now, but wont admit it!]...and then were off to our "house" where there offering kids sports and our kids and the kids from the children's home will get to play around a bit...I'm sure they will love that.   Seriously I can't believe our time here is almost up...everyone one and just about every experience is going to be missed very much! Love, Gina

an bigger update is coming on our travels...

Hi family...a bigger update of our travels is coming...I'm sorry i haven't had much of a chance with a wireless connection...i'm boot-legging rachels internet.  She and her family are super sweet!  They have been so gracious to our family....most people would be like ok...how about we skip a few days of seeing each other...but nope not this family...although they could tell us that and we'd be totally ok with that! ;)
We spent the day at the orphanage....those kids have all stolen my heart. more on those beautiful kids later.
Please pray for 2 of the mamas at the orphanage and the kids...as well as our family and Rachel and Argaw's family...that we don't get any of this typhus(?) sickness going around...and for healing for the two mamas...as they are sick.
Ok.  I gotta run...hopefully i will update later tonight but forsure tomorrow.

Love you all!
Gina
p.s God is amazing! :)

preperation....

I seriously can't believe that we are only...

11 1/2 days away!

WOW. Something I thought that seemed like an eternity..

Its here. 

This morning on the way to school we prayed. [like always.]

but this time we asked the Lord to speak to us. 

I told him, were listening. Please speak.

Then as I was on my way home from taking the kids to school...

i was praying.  Asking the Lord to prepare our hearts.

To see things we are so unfamiliar with...

the breaking of our hearts for others...

to Love unconditionally.

To be lead by him.

The Lord gave me an image in my head.

And it brought me to tears.

tears.

after I saw that image in my mind...I prayed that i would be able to able to do that.

to set myself aside.

to be used by him for his glory only and always.

 I don't want to share the details of the image he gave me.

but I want to see Him bring it to be.

I want to hear Him so clearly.

Sometimes i'm hard of hearing.

So I say scream Lord...and I'm listening intently.

Your will be done...not mine.

We covet your prayers.

I will soon be posting an update of the supplies the Lord supplied through

HIS willing body...

the hands and feet of jesus that you all have been...and are.

Love you all!

Gina

You can help us help the people of Ethiopia!

My family and I have our plane tickets! EEEKKK!! So nerve racking!  God is doing amazing things already.

We have a layover in Egypt which we have booked a tour for the kids to see the pyramids.  It will be so neat to read to them the scriptures while looking at them to understand that they were built in biblical times.  I'm also thankful we found something to do while we wait for our 11 hour connecting flight.  Hopefully this little outing will give them enough energy to get back on the plane for the next jont.  Ethiopia! 

So we asked the beautiful family that runs the orphanage if they are in need of anything for the kids there, or the families that are being sponsored by people just like you.  And she did give us a list...Would you pray about helping us stuff our suitcases to the max for these beautiful people?

Needs for the orphanage:

Shoes for girls sizes 10-11 all the way up to 3-4's.

Boys and girls clothing mainly for older kids...preteen, teenagers to young adults and pretty much anything in between....but if you feel God laying a specific size that is not listed here on your on heart...listen to Him, He will have a plan for it!

The orphanage gets a lot of infant clothing donated...so that's why that's not being requested.

Samaritans purse shoe box items...small toys, tooth brushes, small books, coloring stuff....all that you would put in one of those shoe boxes...


Our Needs:
We still could use monetary [$$] donations for our trip....this is costing every bit of the initial we felt God calling us to save.. $10,000.00 plus more...So if God is laying it on your heart...There is a donate button on this blog, or contact me for our mailing address.  We still have many expenses to pay for...Lodging at multiple locations for just over two weeks, transportation,  food for 5 people for two weeks, Tony taking two weeks completely unpaid, immunizations $1,000.00!  We had not idea!  and others...

oh and i still am selling headbands to raise money for this trip...like this... completely customizable [you pick your colors]...just email me if you want to buy one...$25.00 per headband for woman or a lot smaller for you daughter for $15.00.  :)

FEED [1] Orphan Money... Also still accepting donations....items still available for purchase.  contact us if you need more information.

Prayer!  please pray for us.   pray for our time there.  pray for our hearts to be opened.  pray for safety.  pray for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to anyone and everyone we come in contact with.

Pray for health for our family.  Specifically Emma has to get a lot of shots, and her little body doesn't hand shots well.  But as a friend said today...God's got this!  Amen, he does...but we covet your prayers.

Pray for wisdom and discernment and filling of the holy spirit with our entire family.

Okay, I gotta go run sweet Emme to the doctor now, cause she is sick, again....

XOXO!  
WE really do love you guys!
Gina
P.S our travel dates are June 3rd-June 15th.  :)
  

FEED [1] Products! a perfect Christmas present.

FEED [1] Orphan has new products!  FEED [1] Orphan <----click that to see them!  Spread the word! Wear a product!   I love them.  You totally will too!  They come from partnering with 

sweetTEAshoppes <---click that to see her etsy shop!  All FEED [1] Orphan products range from $18.00-$37.00 and all proceeds feed the orphans.

and without the heart.....

XOXO!

Gina

FEED [1] Orphan Ministries....

I started a FEED [1] Orphan blog yesterday.  This is the ministry that the Lord has been leading my husband and our family into and to start.  Feel free to like us on Facebook.  Follow us on our blog.  I'm hoping that friends and family will pass the word along.  We will have our T-shirts up for sale by October 22!  And hopefully jewelry soon too.

xoxo!
Gina