163 million reasons

163 million reasons to go...

Will you make a difference for one?

Dear Rosie

Dear Rosie,

I told some one about you today. In Spanish class, we were supposed to discuss with our partners one of the happiest moments of our lives. So I told them the story of how we met, how I saw you, the smallest of all the children, standing quietly and expressionless. I told them how I held your small body in my arms for hours. I told them how sad I was when I couldn't get you to smile or laugh. In telling this experience, my voice, in its already shaky Spanish, quivered as the emotions behind our story threatened to burst to the surface.

I continued with the story, and I'm sure they began to wonder, "How was holding a serious, saddened child in a field in the middle of Uganda one of the happiest moments of your life? Wouldn't this break your heart, more than make it happy?"

Well, truth be told, sweet Rosie, holding you as you refused to smile did sadden my heart. But the happy moment didn't come as you continued to stare blankly, simply nodding your head when I asked you how many balloons you held in your hand. The happy moment came when I tickled your tummy and a beautiful smile crept across your face. In that moment, your expression of joy (including a little giggle that escaped from your tightly pursed lips) made me so happy. To know that you felt loved in that moment still brings joy to my heart.

So, that was Spanish class today, Rosie. Another time to reassure my weary heart that waiting on God's timing, pursuing nursing here so I can heal kids across the globe, is worth it.

While I wait, I'll keep telling them all, my sweet friend; I'll tell them because you matter. You matter to Your Heavenly Father, and you surely matter to me.

Depraved Indifference: How much longer will we let it last?

Abba Father, 

Raise up in our hearts the desire to forsake our depraved indifference. Give us courage to step up as Your chosen ones; whether that be in raising awareness for the destitute and orphaned, financially supporting those who bring tangible care to Your precious children, or adopting these dear ones into forever families.  Any way and every way, use us, God, to bring Your restoration to a broken world. Thank you for being a God of hope, whose grace and mercy beckons us to share this message of love that You demonstrated by Jesus' death on the cross. 

Amen. 

Still praying down the number, just some "new" information

Okay, so usually I try to restrict myself from blogging too much during the week, but I thought that this info is pretty important.

So, if you've seen my post from yesterday, I've been praying at 1:47 for the orphans in the world. This was mostly as a result of reading the blogs of those who run the organization 147 Million Orphans. Since that's their organization's name, it seems logical to pray at that time. Not that 1:47 matters more than another time, it's just really cool to think about tons of people across the nation praying for the same thing, at the same time every day. Gwen and Suzanne have challenged readers to pray with them at 1:47, so I thought I'd pay it forward and ask all of you.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, a few people had seen both yesterday's post and my Facebook status about praying at 1:47 and the reasoning for doing so. As those whose hearts have also been broken for orphans, they brought it to my attention that the number of orphans has actually risen quite above 147 million. That said, I think that as my readers, you should probably be accurately informed. So as they opened my eyes a little wider, maybe this post will open yours a little wider too. Here's a link to the UNICEF statistics for orphan estimates (a more accurate number of orphans in the world today), check out the bottom of the "Children who have lost one or both parents do to all causes" column:
Orphan Estimates-UNICEF.

Thanks, Mr. Asperger for the link to the stats!

Ok, so for sake of unity (like I said, all caps LOVE the idea of tons of people praying for the same thing at the same time), I'm going to continue to pray at 1:47, will you still join me??

On an semi-related note: 

My Fiwagoh loves are especially on my heart this week. Lillian showed up in one of my dreams last night; I keep thinking about my sweet sponsor kid Joseph, and I found out that some of my team members from last summer are going to go back to Fiwagoh this summer and I'm might be, kinda sorta, a whole lot bit jealous. Don't get me wrong, I'm PUMPED to go to Costa Rica with Visiting Orphans. It's just picturing the excitement both I and the kids that live at Fiwagoh would feel if I could go back!

Praying Down the Number @ 1:47!

Alright, ladies and gents, I have a challenge for ya!

A little background: There is an organization called 147 Million Orphans run by two AWESOME mothers and orphan advocates Gwen and Suzanne (check out their blogs: Gwen's  and Suzanne's). Well, they have been asking everyone to help them pray down  the number of orphans at 1:47 every day. So, in joining in that challenge myself, I want to ask all of you faithful readers to do the same.

So, in 13 minutes, and every day after today, will you join me and Gwen and Suzanne and whoever else, in praying down this tragically high number of orphans?

It'll just take a few moments. So come on, get on your knees, shut your eyes, take a break, open up your prayer journal, anything and everything it takes to join in praying this number DOWN to the deep depths of the ocean.

                           

Donation Opportunities and YOUR Chance to Rep Some AWESOME Stuff!

Ok, so if you're just tuning in, God's blessed me with the opportunity to go on a mission trip this summer with Visiting Orphans.

The trip, of course, isn't free, SO this is where you come in!

I'm offering a couple really easy ways to help out, AND you don't just have to dish out our dough to get nothing in return.

Here's two big ways you can donate to my trip:

#1: Buy some Visiting Orphans apparel and create awareness for orphans across the world

First, go to http://www.visitingorphans.org and click on the "Store" Tab. Next, check out some really awesome apparel from VO. Here are some examples of the shirts they sell [There are more on the website, but you'll have to hop on over to their site to check them out :) ]

Men's                                                                             Women's 

            

Now, here's how this helps me: When you check out (because all of you are totally going to buy some awesome stuff, RIGHT?) there will be a section that says Donation Information. There'll be a line that you can choose our trip Costa Rica-July 16 and than after that a place where you can put my name: Ellie Billman.

It should look like this:

#2 Way you can help:

We (as in AJ and I) had those nifty Livestrong-like silicon bracelets made to sell for the trip. The say...drumroll please...Yahweh Swag on one side, and Matthew 28:16-20 aka the Great Commission.

For you older generation (no offense, haha) swag is defined as "The way in which you carry yourself. Swag is made up of your overall confidence, style, and demeanor." So, if you're a Christian you have Yahweh swag because who you are in Christ makes up your overall confidence, style, and demeanor. 


If you care to rep your Yahweh swag with a stylish, comfortable, supa cool (am I making a convincing case?) bracelet for $5 in support of our mission trip, then comment on this post and I'll be happy to get one to you, one way or another. 


Just as a side note, these bracelets could be a great conversation starter if you're trying to tell others about Jesus and His AWESOME ability to give us Yahweh swag through His saving grace. 


Here's what they look like: 

Doesn't get much cooler than this people!

Meet my friends!

Some free unsolicited advice: If you ever go on a mission trip, take videos!! 

Because when your heart is sad and you miss your "African kiddos," the precious voices that fill the sound of your dorm room via computer speakers can help a bit. 

Although I'd rather be boarding a flight with destination Nakuru, Kenya, these videos will have to suffice. 

Meet my friends!