"Fill the bags to 50 lbs. challenge" :)

Dearest Friends & Family :)

Some of you have been asking if there is anything we can take over to the orphanage in Ethiopia!! (some of you have not asked BUT thought I would share this opportunity with you anyways! *smile*)  Here is a link to the specific bottles they are requesting. http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-GentleFlow-Bottles-9oz-3pk/dp/B00155ZVW6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318529843&sr=8-1  These are actually going to the ministry Bring Love In.  (Indigenous ministry bringing widows and orphans together to make families!)  Here is their website: http://bringlove.in/  We are visiting this orphanage and am so excited to do this.  Some of you may remember the ministry called 'Drawn from Water' - they were rescuing kids called 'mingi' - kids that were considered possessed and people were actually drowning these children for fear of the evil spirit they thought the kids were possessed with.  That is when 'Drawn from Water' stepped in.  They have changed their ministry slightly and what they are now doing is creating homes for the orphans WITH the widows in the communities as their mothers.  I am not sure if they are still going out and finding mingi children BUT I am excited to visit and learn more about it.  SO - they are wanting bottles and chocolate chips :):)  I guess you cant get chocolate chips over there!  If you live near us and want to donate a bag of chocolate chips that might work OR order on amazon, otherwise it might be tough to get us a bag through the mail for fear of them melting!! (although the hot days of summer might be over!)

Kebe and Shena's orphanage is in need of: 

baby oil

baby Shampoo

baby lotion

sterile wipes

Vaseline

ear-cleaner

Hand sanitizer

Diaper rash ointment

We have a huge bag we can use and as long as it doesn't go over 50 lbs. we are good!:)  We have not gotten any sterile wipes, ear cleaner, hand sanitizers.  We have one of each of the other things.  Obviously we can take more of each item!  If you have a HUGE duffle bag you would be willing to let us use to deliver these that would be awesome - we only have one realllly big one and we feel that is the most effective way of getting most of this stuff over there.  We want them weighing right at 50 lbs. :):)  I suppose its a challenge of sorts . . . Lets call it 'fill the bags to 50 lbs' challenge:)  hah.....!  I will keep you all updated as to where we are at.  Keep a look out on facebook . . .I update that regularly!!  OR come back to my blog!

Please do not feel obligated BUT I did want to let you know about this in case you were interested!  I am pretty sure we will be able to fill up two very large bags of stuff as me and Neal each get to take 2 - 50 lb bags and I am thinking we will not need that much space for all our stuff (haha)  SO lets fill the bags up!!  (oh and feel free to let others know about this) - it might work best to find stuff on amazon and have them mailed to us.  Our mailing address is:  616 Hawthorne Drive, St Joseph, IL  61873. OR if you are within driving distance we totally can come get the stuff!  

An update on our traveling time frame - we leave on Friday, October 28th and arrive back in Chicago on November 4th.  We beg for your prayers as we embark on a journey that only God could lead us on.  His will is written all over this and affirmed by a peace that only can come from The Holy Spirit!  

Also say a prayer for my dear siblings who are so willing to come and serve in a way that blesses us MORE THEN THEY REALIZE!!  Troy/Amity/Tristyn/Maelyn/Rylen, Jason/Maggi/Kyson AND Matt/Kait - THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for sharing in the responsibilities of taking care of our kiddos.  Our kids are excited and that helps so much as it breaks my heart to be gone from them for 7 days!  They are blessed kiddo's to have aunts and uncles who care so much about them!!!

Love you all :) AND thanks for serving in this way!  God be glorified:)

Kim

p.s. - if you get something off the list...post what you got so others can see and maybe they can get something else!  THIS IS SO EXCITING :)