Making our house a home!

So much has happened these past couple of months! To sum it up ... we moved to Ohio near my home town and bought a fixer-upper, starter home!

But let me start by saying that it was not an easy decision to leave Maryland. In fact, we loved it! (especially for me) I loved being near my sister and forming a strong relationship with my niece and nephew. I loved living in a small town up in the mountains. And I loved my jobs. (yes I had a couple part-time nanny jobs) Maryland was so good to us and we have no regrets about moving there.

We were also doing well financially because we were making sacrifices in how we spent our money. Many of our dates nights consisted of a .99 cent ice cream cone from McDonalds and a walk in the park. If we did go out to eat, it was at the small town restaurant where we could both eat for $15 easy. Curtis and I also went through Financial Peace University and became even more focused on how we spent and saved our money. We were both working as hard as we could, making sacrifices and seeing some major results.

We were also ready to buy a house and quite paying so much in rent per month. We were ready ... to settle down in a place that we could have a starter home and where Curtis could have more opportunity to pursue his passions in ministry and a career. And the best place we could think to do that was Ohio!

Then this summer we went on our mission trip with Visiting Orphans to Uganda/Kenya and God rocked our world! We were blown away by how "at home" we both felt there and how much we loved reaching out to the children there. I specifically felt like my calling and passion in life was confirmed and couldn't wait to get my feet back on African soil. But both Curtis and I knew deep down that it would probably be years until we went back. We know that God has some work for us to do here in America first. But that doesn't mean that we can't begin preparing ourselves now and placing ourselves in a position so that when God says, "Go!" we CAN go!!!

So in order to keep ourselves in that position we decided to buy an affordable, fixer-upper house that we could easily pay off ... and we had to move to Ohio in order to do that.

It took so many months of looking but we finally got our house! We have had the keys for 2 weeks now and tackled the renovation process head on! We are doing most all of the work ourselves with the help of my mom and dad. I thank God for my dad because if it wasn't for his expertise in carpentry/remodeling there is no way we could have taken on a project this big.

 

My mom and I are actually standing where the kitchen once was ... total demo!

We are raising the ceiling. 

Here is the height before and after

It makes it feel so much bigger inside!

 

Now that I have seen...

Now that we have seen and have held these children in our own arms... what will we do now??? We can't turn away and do nothing. But what can we do when we are so far away and so disconnected from the suffering of these children?

This is a question that we have asked ourselves as a couple and maybe you have asked yourself as well. Sometimes it can seem hopeless about whether or not we can really make a difference. Not one individual can change the world on their own... but we can make a world of difference in just one life... and for Curtis and I that is enough.

We have some big plans that we are storing in our hearts for the future and we are beginning to make decisions now that will position and enable us to one day walk forward in those plans. But what can we do right now???

Well, there is more that we can do than what we first think. I've got lots of ideas and here are just a few of them ...

•  We can sponsor a child either through Compassion International, Return Ministries, or another trusted organization

•  We can financially give towards "Feed My Starving Children" - this is an organization we got to know and became involved with while in Minnesota. Give just 22 cents and provide 1 meal for 1 child!

•  We can go on a trip to visit an orphanage overseas or with an organization like "Visiting Orphans"

•  We can adopt internationally or here in the States

•  We can foster a child here in the States

•  We can be advocates and raise awareness for orphans in our churches, at work, or with friends/family

•  We can pray!!!

•  We can read books and study about how to effectively help the poor and abandoned

Thank you for following our story, supporting our dreams and being interested enough to read our blog to learn more about how to reach out to orphans! Let's go make a world of difference in a child's life!

Some of my reflections ...

So it has been a couple of weeks now since we have been back from Africa and we have been able to really process and reflect on our experience there. We went so many places and saw so many children in such great need. How could our hearts not be moved?! And they were! Both Curtis & I long to return to Africa. It was crazy how we both felt more at home there than we do here in the States. God are you calling us long-term to Africa??? Maybe ... but not right now. It's not time for us to go but still we long for Africa and for the children. As we wait for God's timing to move us forward, we are seeking God on how to specifically get involved now. The question is not, will we get involved? ...  but HOW?

Why get involved? Here are some deep heart questions that I have wrestled with and the conclusions I have arrived at. Maybe you have asked yourself some of these same questions...

Sometimes I think to myself ... there are so many orphan ministries out there ... does the world really need another one? Then I remember that there are more than 153 million orphans in the world today (And the number continues to rise). So if there were ONE MILLION solid orphan ministries in the world (reaching 50 orphans each) then they would still only be reaching a portion of the children in need. Of course, the world needs more solid orphan ministries!

* That is not even counting all the children who have one or two parents but live in extreme poverty

But then I think to myself ... But with 153 million orphans ... am I really going to be able to make that much of a difference? But then I remember how precious just one single life is. I know that I value my own life and I am just ONE person... do I matter? YES! Does ONE orphaned child matter? YES! Each child has a name, a story, a future, hopes and dreams, and an impact that they will personally make in this world.

But then I think to myself ... But shouldn't I just focus on my own family and having my own children? ... but then I remember that my children will one day be growing up in the same world as these 153 million orphaned children. They will be walking along side them on the streets, working alongside them and possibly even marry one of them. The future of our world will be in the hands of the children, all of them! Who will we raise them to be? And how will they impact the world around them and the people next to them (one of them possibly being my own biological child)? Will we take care of them now so that when they grow up they will know how to take care of each other?

~ This little girl was still traumatized because she was abandoned by her mother and still remembered. She would not talk or interact with me at all or anyone else. For hours I held her, talked to her, and just lightly rubbed her arm to show her love. After such a long time, she finally opened up to me and began to play in the dirt. She was abandoned but brought into a new family at "Haven of Hope". My heart was broken at the realization of how deeply these children are wounded by their experiences. They are so desperate and hungry for love and attention.

God please lead us on how to get involved and make a difference in these children's lives!!!

More on our trip!

We went so many places and loved so many children but there were some very special people that God specifically placed on our hearts. So I wanted to share a bit more specifically on who truly captured our hearts on this trip.

Right at the beginning of the trip God brought us to an amazing ministry in Uganda. We were welcomed with such love and hospitality both from the ministry leaders and the children. "Return Ministries" seeks to care for the orphaned children in their area by placing them in homes within the community. They have about 150 children under their care that they work tirelessly to understand their background, care for their needs, feed them and teach them. As of right now, they are renting so much space for the their housing and church property. But because of the consistent need to pay rent on a monthly basis so much of the funds has to be used to sustain the ministry rather than giving where it is needed most ... in caring for the children. Their goal is to raise money so that they can purchase land so that they can build a community center. That way, they are no longer burdened by monthly rent and can use donated money for the children's school fees, clothing, medical bills, food and more! If you are interested in learning more about their ministry or donating towards their goal of purchasing land, please visit their website at http://www.returnministriesuganda.org/

Sarah and Samuel

founders of "Return Ministries"

At return ministries there was a specific girl who truly captured my heart. I only spent a few days with her but I did grow to love her deeply. Her name was "Valely"! She immediately ran to me from the moment she saw me and she barely left my side for 2 days. During that time we really took care of each other in little ways! We really grew a special connection and I could easily pick her out of crowd of 300 children. I will miss her dearly and pray that I will see her again one day!

Valely and I

While in Kenya at one of the orphanages there was a little boy who immediately ran and clung to me. His name is Moses! He was so impressed that I was able to speak some Swahili that he immediately ran and told some of his friends. He couldn't believe that a Mzunge (white person) could speak some of their language. He grew so dear to my heart during those days at the orphanage... he became a true friend!

Moses and I

And then there was Pauline at Amazing Grace children's home! Wow! She was so precious! I immediately felt a connection with her and was drawn to her sweet spirit. She was so thankful that we were there to visit them. When we handed her a small coloring book with 4 crayons she was the one who looked at me and asked, 

"Is this for me?!" 

I said, "Yes, just for you". 

She then responded... "Wow, it's BEAUTIFUL!!!"

She taught me something profound in that moment... What may seem insignificant and small to us could mean the world to an orphaned child. It doesn't take much to show them love and value. She taught me to be thankful for everything... no matter how big or small!

Pauline and I

A trip of a life time!

How do words begin to express 2 weeks in Africa, 2 countries, over 500 children, 5 ministries, 22 team members, and 1 million amazing memories?! "Amazing" doesn't even seem to do justice to begin to describe our experience but I will try!

Curtis and I both have had extensive mission experiences in the past. He has gone on more than 11 short term mission trips that brought him to nearly every continent in the world. and I had been to eastern Kenya for a total of about 17 months. But with all my time overseas, I had not spent much time specifically in orphan ministry. So I have to admit that even I doubted at times how effective we could be in such a short time there. But the most amazing aspect of this trip was to see how such simple acts of kindness could so deeply affect an orphaned child. These children are so hungry for love and attention that the simplest touch, hug, kiss or word of encouragement is something that they will remember for the rest of their lives. What seems small and insignificant to us ... means the world to them! Wow! What simple, yet powerful love?!

What I continued to hear over and over again from the local people was such an expression of thanksgiving. They thanked us continually for being willing to leave our comfortable homes in America and travel half way across the world so that we could spend some time with them. They were so blessed by our visit and we were so blessed to know how much it meant to them!

Our team was on a mission not only to love and bless the orphaned children but also to relieve some of the burden for the workers. They work so hard day in and day out to care for the children so we wanted to go and serve them as well. There were times that we told the workers to go take a break while we cared for the children for a while. And twice we were able to shop for, prepare and serve a feast for the workers and children (And in Africa that is no small task!).

We also brought so much needed supplies like clothes, baby formula, wipes, diapers, medicine and more! My mom had brought an entire suite case full of supplies and had been praying about where to distribute the formula she had purchased. She didn't feel like she was supposed to give all the formula to the ministry that specifically requested it and so hung on to it, not knowing there was a need at the next orphanages we were going to. But sure enough, at "Haven of Hope" in Kenya my mom asked the owner whether or not she needed formula and the woman started crying and praising God... She had been praying for a week for formula because they were out. Both my mom and the owner broke down in tears because of God's goodness.

(Owner at Haven of Hope)

We also did a VBS lesson for all the children. We told them that they are beautifully made in God's image and that we are kings and queens in God's royal family when we believe in Jesus! We then had paper crowns for each child that they could personally decorate and keep. One of the girls on our team had brought a polarized camera. So we took a picture of each child with their crown and gave the picture to them to keep so they could always remember the truth they learned that day.

In Kenya especially, the older children like to write letters to you as a sign of friendship... and of course they would like a letter in return. At one of the orphanages we were staying at, the children wrote so many letters to us and they took the stickers and jewels that we gave them to decorate their crowns and used them to decorate our letters. How selfless! These children were taking what they had (what we had just given to them) and giving it to us!

These are just a few ways that we were used in Uganda and Kenya to serve the people there! Later I will post about individuals that we met and how they stole our hearts!

Please pray with us!

We are so excited about our trip in just a few days. It always amazes me on how fast time goes by when looking back. We have been waiting for this trip for about a year now, either in our hearts and/or actually planning and fundraising. We have been overwhelmed with the amount of support, love and prayers we have received fromm those whom we know. And we have been so thankful!!!

This time we are asking for your prayers while we are actually on the field. We will spend one week in Uganda and one week in Kenya. We will be taking 8 flights, stay in a rural village for a few days, come in contact with more than 500 orphans and visit up to 5 orphanages.

Would you please pray for us, with us and for those we will be coming in contact with?

Please pray for:

Safety for us, my mom and the team
That we will have increased energy and strength
That this will be a positive experience for my mom (this is her first mission trip)
That the children will know the love of Christ through us and be transformed!

Life with a few adventures!

Life is good and God has truly been so good to us during this season of life. Curtis and I are working hard in our jobs but also taking the opportunities at hand to embrace this season with joy. One day we went to visit DC to see the Cherry blossom trees in bloom and I told Curtis in the car on our way home, "We sure do like to work hard and play hard!" ... He responded with a laugh ... "Yah, and then we go home and sleep hard!" :) So yes, we are working hard, embracing some adventures and sleeping in when we can, since many times we don't go into work until later in the day.

So some quick updates:

- We are almost funded for our mission trip! We are only awaiting the finalization for our airline tickets and then we will know exactly where we stand financially! Any overage in finances that we raise will be used on the field during our trip to bless the children. Thank you so much to everyone who has given to us so far... we are blessed beyond measure for your support!

- It is warming up outside so Curtis & I are on a mission to get back into shape. Winter was cold this year so  it was extremely hard to keep up with exercising. But now the trees are in bloom and the sun is shining enough for us to start walking and jogging again. Curtis specifically wants to get back into shape so that he can go on some backpacking trips on the Appalachian trail! (A dream of his) I will be so glad to see him do that!

- My sister and I went to a ladies tea party at her church and it was so encouraging to my heart. I love women's events like that ... that focus on ministering to the feminine heart and inspiring the woman to use the gifts God has given her to serve others. During the tea party the Executive Director of "Hope Alive" came to speak about their ministry. They reach out to the homeless women and children in the Maryland area, providing them a home to stay in for 2 years as they get back on their feet financially or pursue an education. The work that they do is so inspiring and I am excited to possibly drop off some donations at the house in the near future since the house is only about 10 minutes away from us...

P.U.R.S.E

(Passionately Using Resources to Serve El Shaddai)

My heart is so blessed during this season of life! God continues to pour out His love on my heart and at times I am overwhelmed by His pure goodness! He truly is working in every area of our lives. All of the pain, hurt, troubles and sorrows that we endure during this life can all be turned around for our good with the Lord's work. He is in the business of redeeming, healing, and saving our souls! And His work is beautiful... hard at times, but if we keep enduring it will turn out to be BEAUTIFUL!!!

Our favorite recipes!

For these past 15 months of marriage I have had so much fun cooking old family recipes and trying new ones. It has been an adventure learning to plan, shop for, cook and clean up after 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks/year - that's 1,095 meals/year! Not to mention snacks and baking! Yikes! Sometimes I feel like it is a full time job just keeping food in the fridge and on the table (and it is only just the 2 of us so far!) But I must say that I LOVE it! I enjoy planning, shopping and cooking for us! Of course, there have been times that the meal just didn't turn out right and I promised never to cook that particular meal again. And I've been told that every new bride burns the chicken at least once (done that!).

But all in all, I love my job as a wife in managing the kitchen and Curtis is always so great in being willing to help out when I need it.

So I thought it may be fun and a blessing to share with you some of our favorite recipes! Enjoy!

Corn Bread (no cornmeal) *** Best ever ***
1 (15 oz) can of whole corn
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup (soft) butter
1/4 honey      
 
Picture from:http://lifes-greatest-blessings.blogspot.com/2012/09/corn-bread-muffins-real-corn-no-cornmeal.html

Directions: Process corn, mix all dry ingredients, mix all wet ingredients, combine dry and wet ingredients, Pour into 8x8 pan, bake at 400* for 25-30 minutes. Can make as muffins also.

Baked Zucchini
cooking spray
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 Tbsp butter
4 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, divided
1/2 cup Romano Cheese, divided
Salt & Pepper to taste
4 Zucchini, thinly sliced
3 large tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced                                                        
1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese                                                              (Picture from Aldi.com)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350*, Spray 9x13 pan, mix in bowl - garlic, Italian seasoning, butter, olive oil, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup Romano cheese, salt an pepper. Add zucchini, tomato and onion to bowl and mix. Add mixture to pan. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan, Romano, and Mozzarella cheese. Bake for 30 minutes covered with foil. Remove foil and bake for additional 5-10 minutes.
* I just use mozzarella cheese in place of Romano Cheese.

Chicken Parmigiana
1 egg, beaten
2 ounces of bread crumbs
2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
3/4 (16 oz.) jar spaghetti sauce
2 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions: Preheat oven to 350*, lightly grease pan, (I thinly cut the chicken breast in half hot dog style and then pound it down) pour egg  and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip chicken in egg, then into the bread crumbs and then place in pan. Cook until no longer pink, up to 40 minutes. Pour spaghetti sauce under and over chicken. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and return to oven for 20 minutes.
** Should be so tender that you can cut it with your fork!                        (Picture from all recipes.com)

And lastly for dessert! My Grandma Luta's famous ...

7-layer Cookie
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or Margarine
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 12 crackers)
1 can (3 1/2 ounces or 1 1/2 cups) Flaked coconut
1 6-ounce package of chocolate pieces
1 6-ounce package of butterscotch pieces
1 can (15 ounces) Sweetened condensed milk (non-evaporated)
1 cup chopped walnuts

Directions: Preheat oven to 325*. Meanwhile, put butter in 9x13 pan and slide in oven to melt. (Don't burn). When melted, remove man from oven, tip to spread butter and sprinkle evenly with graham cracker crumbs. Top with the coconut, then chocolate, then butterscotch. Drizzle condensed mild over and sprinkle with nuts. Press nuts lightly into mixture, so they won't fall off later. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool. Cut into pieces.

Enjoy!!!

Why go and visit orphans?

163 million reasons ... 

"Give hope to an orphan for one day and it may be the day they remember for the rest of the their lives"

- Amanada Lawrence (Executive Director of Visiting Orphans)

We are praying for the children that we encounter during our time in Uganda and Kenya. We pray that the days, hours and moments that we spend with them will be a time where hope infuses their hearts... Hope that changes and inspires them for a life time... Hope that only Christ can give and we can reflect.

Party of 3!

We are so excited that my mom has decided to go on the trip with us!!! She has been secretly wanting to go on a mission trip for the past few years and told God that if she had the opportunity that she would go.... 

Well, here is her opportunity!

When I first invited her to come with us a couple of months ago she immediately responded, "I would love that!" but continued to go back and forth for a few weeks wondering if now was the right time to go. I wanted to give God room to speak and for her to hear His voice for herself, so I did not push the issue. She needed to make this decision for herself. Well, after a couple of weeks she decided NOT to go. But weeks after her decision the Lord kept knocking on her heart and she just couldn't shake it off. 

So I asked her again and encouraged her to be brave!... And with a little nudging from my brother who said, "Mom, don't be a chicken!" :)
she has decided to go and is already signed up and apart of the team. We are thrilled to have her come along and know that this will be an awesome time of bonding for all of us. 

She has decided not to fundraise but she still needs our prayers and support! Please keep my mom in prayer as she prepares to go. This is a huge step of faith for her!

Just a little update!

We are so thankful for all the support and love that we have received as we are raising funds for our mission trip this May 31st-June 14th. Our hearts are overwhelmed with gratitude and thanksgiving for all the donations we have received. Both Curtis and I are 65% funded!!! 

Our first financial deadline is in just a few days where we both needed 60% ... we praise God that we have exceeded that goal with your help!

Our hearts continue to grow in excitement as the trip is coming up quick. We had our first conference call as a team this past week where we found out that we will be split up into 4 groups within our team:

Worship

Arts & Crafts

VBS

Sports & Games

We need to have material prepared before we go because we will need to be ready at a moments notice to lead worship, minister to the children, teach them or just have fun with them! Curtis has already requested to be apart of the worship team and I am so excited to see him use his gifts and talents for the benefit of others. I am still praying about what group I would like to be apart of but we have also been warned that we could be pulled into any group during the course of the trip. We just need be willing to serve in any place there is a need.

Curtis and I have also been a part of a small group at our local church where we are studying about orphan ministry. It is a video series that we are working through and is so beneficial as we are are moving forward with our mission trip. One of the speakers recently said that, "There is a great need for us to be brought near to the crisis - those who have no family or voice". I do agree with this statement. When we are brought near to the need then our hearts are moved to respond. Otherwise, our hearts can become hardened and even self-absorbed. 

So we are so thankful for this opportunity to GO where the need is the greatest and allow God to move in our hearts and show us how to respond!

If you would still like to give you can do so ...

Online:
https://www.visitingorphans.org/cgi-bin/donate.cgi : Be sure to type in one of our names

Mail: 
203 N. Carroll St. Ext #20
Thrumont, MD 21788

What we are up to now...

So I wanted to give you a bit of an update on what we are doing now... 

After arriving in Maryland in August I posted my profile on Care.com, which is a networking website for nannies, families in need of childcare, housekeeping and more! After a few interviews and some weeks I landed the perfect job. For the past few months I have worked for a wonderful family who has one boy that I help care for on a part-time basis. The family has treated me so well and been so generous towards me. It wasn't long after I started that they then hired me for more hours to do the housekeeping in their home. So now I work for them about 24 hours a week. I was/am so thankful for my job but I wanted to do more to help bring in more finances. So, through care.com again, I picked up a small housekeeping job for 4-6 hours a week and then another nanny job for another few hours a week. The scheduling for the jobs work so perfectly together, allowing me to do all three. I must stay that I am very happy and content with the work that I have. Working within the home truly is my passion!

After arriving in Maryland, Curtis needed a job pretty much right away, realizing that he was the main "bread winner" for our home. So he applied to many different jobs and ended up getting hired at "Chick-fil-a" within 2 days. It really was amazing how fast they responded to his application and hired him on the spot. It seemed at first that this job would only be temporary until he found a better one in the field he preferred... But so far his boss has given him some generous raises and even some health insurance. And within about 2 months he was promoted to a manager position. Then shortly afterwards we find out that Chick-fil-a has their own mission organization... who would have thought! The more that we learn about them as an organization, the more we agree and are encouraged by the values they stand on and their heart behind the business... their passion for serving people! So we just wonder... God do you have something more for us here... We are not entirely sure yet... but we are just waiting and taking one step at a time.

We are so thankful for this season that we are in and embracing everyday!!!

Thanks for following our story!