This was a 24-hour event with worship music and prayer sessions happening continually. Because we had the kiddos in tow, we only attended a couple of the afternoon sessions and opted to skip the overnight hours.
Dave and I were asked to share the story of how Feed Their Tummies began and what our partnership with Mwangaza looks like. We did this on stage while trying to corral all of our littles {and, we had just come from a birthday party so they were all hopped up on birthday cake…}… it was entertaining and chaotic. One of Tresor’s friends told him that she liked us because we seemed “so real.” Hmmm… well, if nothing else, we can make everyone else feel comfortable because there is absolutely no pretense here of us having it all together.
It was a beautiful event honoring our daughter’s home country. A country and a people that we love and are honored to intercede for in prayer.
As if he hadn’t already had enough sugar at the birthday party, someone was enjoying the baked goods for sale…
To top off our weekend of Feed Their Tummies events, we had a chance on Sunday morning to accept an offering from the precious little ones at our church. The elementary kiddos have been taking up an offering each week in order to feed the tummies of their peers, here and abroad. Seriously amazing.
So, I haven’t really announced all of the fun behind-the-scenes stuff going on around here but I’ll let y’all in. Dave is working to turn our little piece of land that we call “the farm” into an actual farm. He will be growing blueberries and blackberries here on this property in order to benefit our feeding program in Congo and also to feed local kiddos in our foster system.
God has unfolded these plans slowly and with such clarity that we can’t not do this. We still don’t know all of the details of how this will look but we just keep taking one step forward in obedience and trust.
And, “Farmer Dave” was presented with a check from the “joy jug” offering that will go toward the purchase of about eighteen blueberry plants. I just love this so much. These kiddos have all offered to come out in the spring to help with the initial planting. Love in action, friends. Oh my heart. I could not love this more.
As if that’s not enough…
A new friend {whom we had never met before last week} decided he wanted to plan a series of concerts in our town that would take place at houses in order to have an intimate, casual atmosphere. Memberships to the monthly concert series would be sold and each month’s show would feature a new artist in a new location.
Because he wanted the proceeds to be donated, he asked if Feed Their Tummies would accept 100% of the profits. {And, we had never met him at this point!!}
You guys! I can’t make this stuff up. If you don’t believe that God loves the orphans of this world and really means it when He commands us to care for them, then, read this post again from the beginning. He just keeps opening door after door after door ….
So, someone handed me a microphone and I sort of went on and on and on about these kiddos in Congo. I don’t get out much and no one was interrupting me. I don’t know what they expected… it was sort of inevitable that I would not.stop.talking. {I told Dave to grab the microphone from me next time… ha!}.
Our family has been abundantly blessed by this program and the support of so many to make it happen. Kingdom-building work just makes my heart beat wildly. What an honor it is to participate in His work here on earth.
Wow. God blows me away!!!!