Exciting News!!!!!!

When I started and named my blog, I secretly ( well, secret to most) in my heart was hoping that one of the main journeys I would be sharing on here would be a journey to adoption. My heart has always broken for children who are not loved and treated the way they should be and w/in the past several years I have a real burden for the orphans of the world!!! I have this deep longing to adopt and give children a home and a family who will love them unconditionally. So far it does not look like this will be a journey I will be going on for different reasons. I recently started praying and begging the Lord to show me then, if adoption was not His plan for me, then what was I suppose to do w/all that is in my heart. I feel that He obviously has put it there for a reason. Soon after I started praying for God to show me what fits in my hand in caring for orphans, I found out about a  mission trip taking place in July. I found out about it from my friend Sarah and A blog that I follow http://www.mycrazyadoption.org/ . I am not sure which came first. But as soon as I heard , my heart began to stir!! I just had this feeling that I was suppose to go. Sarah and I talked w/ excitement of how awesome it would be to go together. Days passed and I decied that I needed to pursue this despit my fear of flying ( I just flew for the first time to Florida in November) and despite the fact that Sarah may not go. So I spent a week in prayer and then sent in my application. So  I will be going to Africa in July!!!

I can't tell you how very excited I am as well as being very nervous. But I feel that peace; feeling very strongly that this is from the Lord.  I also feel an even greater peace because I found out that I will be sharing this journey with one of my very best friends , Sarah and her Mom, Marge ( also my friend).  I know that we will have a blast ( maybe that is not the word bt not sure what it is :0) ) serving the Lord together!! We are already planning practice sessions on how to squat and pee.LOL JK (I think) Ok maybe I shouldn't have shared that.So anyhoo, I will be traveling through an organization called Visiting Orphans w/ 2 hosts Kari Smalley Gibson( She is Gary Smalleys daughter :0)  Look at me a name dropper. LOL One of the first Bible Studies I did was one he had put together on marriage. Sweet memories for me sitting in Uncle Tom and Aunt Cindys living room. Kari also is a friend of sarahs . They adopted their little ones from Ethiopia at the same time.)The other host is Ashlie Fulmer. I can't wait to get to know these ladies better. The trip is from July 19 through August 1st.  We will be going first to Uganda to work with Katie Davis. ** Sigh** I have been following her blog for awhile. This gal is such an example of Christ and encourages me in so many ways. http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Check it out and be blessed!!!! I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to hopefully be a blessing to her and all of the people and children she ministers to!!!! In Ethiopia, we will be visiting many orphanages: Mother Teresas HIV Orphanage and the Ahope HIV orphanage and Kids Care Orphanage. This just warms my heart. This is where Eli was getting all of his lovin that we were praying for while Sarah and Bob were waiting for the day when they could bring him home.Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare and head out on this journey!! For more details and my itinerary you can visit http://www.africainjuly.blogspot.com/ Oh and I just have to add I am not giving up on adoption!!!! i am still praying that one day God will take me on that journey as well!!!! :0) Shhhhh!!!