It's been almost 2 years since Josh traveled to Africa on a mission trip through our church and also in conjunction with the Bigger Than Life Christian Foundation who he worked for at the time and for whom he had designed the Esther's House Orphanage in Malawi, Africa.
I knew how important this trip meant to Josh, but never saw myself wanting to go. After watching all of Josh's videos and looking at the hundreds of pictures, my heart began to soften for the people of Malawi. I knew Esther's House Orphanage was a great opportunity and source of hope for that region and was so glad that Josh was able to be a part of it. Still, I didn't see myself going because of the boys and because I wasn't sure I would be able to handle what I would see.
Only a handful of people know of this story that I am about to share.
Last year on July 27, 2009 at 2:27 a.m. God began waking me up in the middle of the night for 3 weeks straight. Same time every morning....2:27 a.m. Every night I was awake, I couldn't go back to sleep. The people of Africa were so strongly on my heart. I would go to my Bible in the middle of the night just knowing that there was a reason God was waking me up at the same time every night. I went through every book of the Bible looking at the 2nd chapter, 27th verse of every book hoping to find my answer. Didn't find it.....in fact, still don't know what that meant, if anything, but still watching for God to reveal that to me as well. :-)
Last fall, I was doing a bible study at church on the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Great book and if you have the chance to read it, it will change you tremendously! It had been a while since I had felt God convicting my heart about Africa, but during the course of this bible study, I began to feel a strong conviction about going to Africa. I broke down one day in bible study explaining to the women around me what I was struggling with. In my heart, I knew God wanted me to help the people in Malawi and Esther's House Orphanage, but my heart was also tied here to two little boys whom I couldn't fathom leaving.
Now, fast forward to today.....
This past week, I had my prayers answered and my eyes opened to what God was calling me to do. I received a phone call out of the blue from one of the founders of the Bigger Than Life Christian Foundation. I know her well, but had never discussed anything about what I was going through nor my desire to help in some way. She called me wanting to know if I would want to volunteer to help them by making sure all donations coming in for the orphans, projects and volunteers were allocated to the right accounts, etc. so that they could make sure all the money being sent in was being used for exactly what the donors intended. She said, "The great thing is, you can help in this way and still be able to stay at home with the boys Carrie." I was in absolute awe of how awesome God works and how he had been preparing my heart for this task. I met with them this week and as I was getting ready to go meet them I looked down at my phone and realized the date....July 27, 2010!! I hadn't even realized the date when we scheduled a time to meet. I just knew we were meeting on Tuesday. It had been exactly a year ago to the day that God had begun waking me up in the middle of the night! Just amazing to me how God is so into every detail of our lives. I knew then that this is what I was called to do and had such a peace about my decision. I still have a strong desire to go to Esther's House one day, but for now, I am so happy to be able to help in this way.
I knew how important this trip meant to Josh, but never saw myself wanting to go. After watching all of Josh's videos and looking at the hundreds of pictures, my heart began to soften for the people of Malawi. I knew Esther's House Orphanage was a great opportunity and source of hope for that region and was so glad that Josh was able to be a part of it. Still, I didn't see myself going because of the boys and because I wasn't sure I would be able to handle what I would see.
Only a handful of people know of this story that I am about to share.
Last year on July 27, 2009 at 2:27 a.m. God began waking me up in the middle of the night for 3 weeks straight. Same time every morning....2:27 a.m. Every night I was awake, I couldn't go back to sleep. The people of Africa were so strongly on my heart. I would go to my Bible in the middle of the night just knowing that there was a reason God was waking me up at the same time every night. I went through every book of the Bible looking at the 2nd chapter, 27th verse of every book hoping to find my answer. Didn't find it.....in fact, still don't know what that meant, if anything, but still watching for God to reveal that to me as well. :-)
Last fall, I was doing a bible study at church on the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Great book and if you have the chance to read it, it will change you tremendously! It had been a while since I had felt God convicting my heart about Africa, but during the course of this bible study, I began to feel a strong conviction about going to Africa. I broke down one day in bible study explaining to the women around me what I was struggling with. In my heart, I knew God wanted me to help the people in Malawi and Esther's House Orphanage, but my heart was also tied here to two little boys whom I couldn't fathom leaving.
Now, fast forward to today.....
This past week, I had my prayers answered and my eyes opened to what God was calling me to do. I received a phone call out of the blue from one of the founders of the Bigger Than Life Christian Foundation. I know her well, but had never discussed anything about what I was going through nor my desire to help in some way. She called me wanting to know if I would want to volunteer to help them by making sure all donations coming in for the orphans, projects and volunteers were allocated to the right accounts, etc. so that they could make sure all the money being sent in was being used for exactly what the donors intended. She said, "The great thing is, you can help in this way and still be able to stay at home with the boys Carrie." I was in absolute awe of how awesome God works and how he had been preparing my heart for this task. I met with them this week and as I was getting ready to go meet them I looked down at my phone and realized the date....July 27, 2010!! I hadn't even realized the date when we scheduled a time to meet. I just knew we were meeting on Tuesday. It had been exactly a year ago to the day that God had begun waking me up in the middle of the night! Just amazing to me how God is so into every detail of our lives. I knew then that this is what I was called to do and had such a peace about my decision. I still have a strong desire to go to Esther's House one day, but for now, I am so happy to be able to help in this way.
This is Josh working on Esther's House Orphanage-August 2008
This is the medical clinic Josh has designed that is in desperate need of being built. Adequate healthcare is just not available, and I have heard too many stories this week that have broken my heart. Pure Mission is wanting to raise enough money as soon as possible so this medical clinic can be built.
There are so many ways that you can help. Please visit the Pure Mission website and find out how you can help. There are still a few orphans left that need sponsors, as well as projects, supply needs and volunteers that need your financial support as well. I know it is hard to send your money to support causes such as this because you never really know for sure if your money is being used as you intended. This is a great foundation and you can be confident that your money is being used for what you intend it for because I will be working to make sure that it is allocated correctly! You can also be sure that you will be blessed tremendously by this ministry.
I would appreciate your prayers as I take on this new endeavor.
