One foot in front of the other

I am slowly getting used to the stares,

the whispers, the comments...

They range from "Wow, that is great for YOU."

(as if the person speaking doesn't have what

 it takes to effect change themselves....

That's the biggest lie from SATAN,

don't believe a word he whispers!!)

Even from the comfort of your living room,

there is MUCH you can do to change the

lives of these children!

Ask, I would be happy to share how!

to...  "Why don't you do more? 

Why don't you physically adopt?"

That one usually angers me...

People with all the answers,

who've never walked a day in my shoes.

Right now, in this point in our lives,

God has us here...

and here...

because of him...

and him...

and them...

and ALL of them...

Today, listening to the radio,

I cried as I heard a line about the

weight of the world

being on the artist's shoulders.

That's about where I am right now.

Leaning on God for many situations that are

weighing down on me here and over there.

There is news about these boys

and their future,

it's too early to be able to share,

but what it means is that in the near future,

there will be a need to raise some

 big time funds to help them

through some pretty scary times.

But our God is big,

and I believe that He is calling

many of you to step up,

step out of your comfort zone,

and help.

Don't worry, I am not asking you

to get on a plane with me,

but I will be asking you to get on your knees,

and see what He would have YOU do to help.

The prayers have already begun,

the process?

Well, we expect it to begin in late June,

after some details get worked out.

but please pray...

What does HE want YOU to do

about the orphans living at Kolfe?

There is joy in sacrificial giving...

because it wasn't yours in the first place!

What is the Kolfe Pillow Project?

It's an effort to show

an orphanage full of boys

in Ethiopia

(almost 300 of them)

 that Jesus ♥s them.

They currently are blessed enough (really!)

to sleep on bedding like this.

The boy who sleeps here, is lucky...

he HAS a pillowcase!

We can do better!

We can show them love in a tangible way.

Please don't misunderstand me.

Hands down, they would rather
have a mom and dad.

A bed located in the home
of a loving family.

Maybe God is nudging YOU...

But, let's suppose you are new

to this concept of true orphans.

I can still remember the day

my eyes were opened

 for the first time.

The day I KNEW I had to do SOMETHING...

Loving on these boys is a good place

 to start to walk in obedience

to what He truly has called us all to.

Each night as they lay their head down

on their new pillow, and (for many)

on their first ever pillowcase...

these boys will remember that someone CARED.

To be an orphan boy in Ethiopia,
means you are one of the masses...

 and will likely stay that way.

 The adoption of older children is rare,

and the result of that fact is...

pain and loneliness.

 This breaks my heart, and I pray that in a small,

 small way we can ease their hurt,

 if even for one moment each day

 as their head hits that pillow.

I have seen what a difference
 just a little love
displayed to these boys can make.

Their smiles absolutely capture my heart!
These are God's children,
and together, I KNOW
we can make a difference!

photo courtesy of C.Gingerich

Could HE be calling
you to get involved?

~ 300 sewn pillowcases

~ 300 notes/drawings of encouragement

~ tax deductible donations to purchase pillows

(and blankets??) in Ethiopia

The result?
Endless smiles and joy filling the Kolfe campus.
Please consider playing a part in of the
joy we hope to bring to these boys.
We hope to complete this project
by the beginning of July,
is God calling you to help?

God has us on a wild ride, but we love it!

This has been an incredible journey for our family,
and me personally.  It has been exciting to be
a small part of what God is doing at Kolfe. 
We have watched in awe,
 as God has continually provided the funding
we needed in order for me to travel.

What you may not know about our story,
is that as we were working to raise funds
for my first trip, we were also on a
journey of another kind with the Lord. 

John, escaping a really bad work environment,
 had just taken a position with a new company.
That new job was a contract position, and required a
 30% cut in pay, and also meant that
 we no longer had benefits.
  That is not the time most people embark
on thoughts of journeying to an orphanage
 on the other side of the world...
 but wow... to watch God at work,
when all we had was to trust on Him... 
was AMAZING!!!! 

Now 2 trips into this journey to Ethiopia,

and fundraising for the 3rd and it's projects,

we have been blessed with the help

and partnerships of two different organizations

who will make this so much easier.

 The first you have already heard about,

and a few of you have donated to... 

Gladney Adoption Agency.

This wonderful organization,
who cares so deeply for the boys at Kolfe...
is allowing us to collect tax deductible donations
 for our Pillow Project.  Once we get to Addis,
 they will ensure that we get those funds back,
 so that we can go shopping for the boys there,
and pump some money into the local economy. 

 But there is one more that you haven't heard about...

Agape Christian Church
has graciously agreed to partner with us
on this journey to love the boys of Kolfe.
Part of this partnership means that they will
allow people to donate to them
 for our trip expenses.
 (not the Pillow Project)
So, if you don't feel called to GO,
 but are willing to help SEND us...

Tax Deductible Donations can be sent to

Agape Christian Church

2487 S. Gilbert Road Suite 106-301

Gilbert, AZ 85295

(480) 231-2575

Pastor: Charles Newman

Please indicate: "Kolfe" on your check.

We appreciate everyone who has realized that
 they are Blessed to be a Blessing
and in the process has given us and the boys....
garage sale items,
 Craig*slist items,
spare change,
fists full of cash (that was a fun one!),
financial donations,
luggage,
hundreds of boxes of raisins,
 fruit money,
snacks,
beach balls,
soccer shirts
soap,
toothbrushes,
toothpaste
card games,
videos,
punch balls,
and so many other things for the boys,
 and most of all,
  prayed for us!!!
Whew!!!
 We could NOT have done any of this without you!

Thank you!
Or as they say at Kolfe... Amesagnallow!

The Crazy Africa Lady,

How can you help??

First of all, no question is "dumb"...

this can be a confusing project

to understand, so please, please ask!!!

A reader asked, "What if I can't sew?" 

Good question!

WE can, and I have helpers who can also,

 so do like Eva did today, and

 SEND us the fabric

to make pillowcases.

  7/8 yard for the pillowcase,

3/8 yard for the band...

 that's all we need for a basic pillow.

Can't sew, and don't want to donate fabric?

We need financial donations

in order to purchase

the pillows and blankets

 when we get to Ethiopia.

Donations are tax deductible through Gladney.

Want to get the kids involved?

We want to travel with

300 cards/drawings/notes

of encouragement

to hand out with each pillowcase pack.

Let's shower these kids with love!

Any size is fine, but if you don't care...

1/2 of a regular sheet of paper or card stock 

(like above) makes a great size!

You might wonder... Do the boys speak English?

The answer varies... some speak none, some speak a lot.

 - - - - -

Keeping the drawings simple, is a safe way around this. 

"Jesus Loves You" and such is pretty each to translate.

Bible verses are great too...  mostly, the kids will know

they are loved by seeing the evidence of effort made

on their behalf.  The language doesn't matter,

but the heart behind it will speak volumes!!

Thoughts about the pillow project....

I got an email from our oldest son, Ayal, this morning... thanking us for the bed we bought for him last week. What he said hurt my heart... He is SO proud to finally OWN a bed, and not be sleeping on the floor... a bed that is his, and belongs to him. Something that cost us so little, meant so much to him.

It got me thinking about this Kolfe project... these boys have sooooo little, and we have sooo much, and yet, honestly, don't we all think... "Times are tough, I can't afford to give more than we already give... someone else will help her with this."

I am asking you to stop and think about the precious children sleeping each night at your house. On comfortable beds, with fluffy pillow, pillowcases and sheets that are freshly washed... What we are trying to do for these boys isn't that much... yes, times 300 kids, it is, but really?

A new pillow, a new blanket, a pillowcase sewn with love for a boy who has no one to tuck him in at night... no one to kiss and hug him good night... Ideally, I'd like to bring 260 sets of adoption papers in my suitcase... but I know that isn't going to happen, so what can we do??

Photo from my last trip... a precious child of God... sleeps here.

We can share God's love with these boys... please consider helping even one boy this summer.... $12 will buy a pillow/blanket for one sweet, sweet boy...

Someone thanked me this week for not being picky about her sewing abilities.  Honestly, if you are sewing with love, that's all that we ask.  Spend some time praying for the boy or young man who will be on the receiving end of your efforts.... and then send it to us so that we can post a photo of your work to inspire someone else to join in.  That is the beauty of this project... it takes a lot of people of varying abilities, and yet it will be such a blessing to boys who know nothing about straight seams, or missed stitches... they will only know that someone loved, someone cared... 

And if you can't sew?  Well, we are looking for fabric that we can sew, and/or the funds to purchase pillows and blankets over there... and we want to take 300 of these.  Cards and drawings of encouragement for each and every boy there.  It doesn't have to be big, (Kyle and Kristelle used 1/2 of a sheet of card stock for each of these) and it doesn't have to be complicated...

just full of L-O-V-E!

Sunshine...

Sometimes, it only takes a little sunshine

 to brighten a cloudy day.

These two pillowcases were inside my mailbox today...

just the sunshine I needed to keep on going!

Proof positive that

God uses people to encourage others,

even when they might not have known there was a need. 

Thank you, Eva!

I can picture the smiles already!

How great!!!

Count is at 52 out of 300...

Here's a simple way of making a pillowcase. 

(You can skip the third, 2" fabric if you want...)

Thanks, Shelly!