Well, I have returned home safely from Nashville. It was a great couple of days. Each time I go, I love that city more and more. Now that I am back home I need to do a big fund raising push! I want to be open and honest with all of you in this blog. You are supporting my trip and I think I need to be honest with you when it comes to the funds. I received an email from the contact at the company I am going to Ethiopia with. Even though you all have helped me raise over $700 so far, they are leery to reserve my airline ticket yet. They want to make sure I am going to be able to raise all of my funds in time. I still have to raise just over $3,000. I know I will raise the money in time, but saying it and seeing it are two different things. On my last two trips it has come down to the wire. I just know this is how it works. It is a huge step of faith for me. I know God will provide...it just comes down to the very end sometimes.
Well, for them to reserve the airline ticket they want to see more money. I want do to a big fund raising push. Let's show them they are wrong for showing such a lack of faith!! Our God can move mountains! Let's show them He will move this mountain of $3,045!! If you are planing to give to my trip, why not give now? Let's show them people out there will support me. Let's show them the funds will and are coming in. Let's show them God's people are faithful and obedient. If He is placing it on your heart to help send me to Ethiopia, don't try to extinguish that feeling let it burn into a consuming fire for the Lord. Let it show others that you step out in faith for God to see what He does not only for my trip, but in your life. He will honor your faithfulness. Let's see how much can be raised over the next week. I'm going to be crazy and put out a number. Do you all want to be crazy with me?? Do you all want to step out in faith with me?? You want to be crazy for the Lord with me?? I've been called crazy before, but this may put me over the edge! haha But with the Lord all things are possible!! I've seen some pretty insane things be done in His name for His people. When He is in control and wants something done, like I said, He can move mountains. Let's get this financial mountain moved!!!
Let's raise $1,000 in the next week!!! I know that may seem like a lot, but for the Lord that is nothing. I've seen that kind of money be raised in hours. If you cannot donate at this time, please share my blog with others. Get the word out there. Let's see what the Lord is going to do. Not only with the financial end of my trip, but what He is going to do in Ethiopia. I believe that with everything going on in Ethiopia right now it is even more important to share His love with His people in Ethiopia. With everything going on there right now it has only reinforced that I am supposed to be there. Will you allow God to use you to help me get there?
Please help me get the word out there. Share the link to my blog. Tell everyone you know. All donations to my trip are tax deductible. I leave 3 months from Monday...June 21st. And, I tell ya, Satan has been in over drive the closer the trip has gotten. He always seems to rear his ugly head whenever I go back to Ethiopia. Whenever I follow the plans the Lord has for me, he always tries to stop me. The comments I get, the naysayers, those who lack confidence in what I am going to do. "You'll never raise the funds in time." "Maybe you shouldn't go." "Maybe you should wait and go in the future." "Are you sure this is what God wants you to do?" Guess what, Satan, this only reinforces that the Lord wants me to go!! You can't fool me! I ain't listening to you!!! Go back to where you belong!
Let's show Satan who's boss!!! Let's have this big fund raising push be a success! Let's show him what God's people can do when they come together!! You can donate online by clicking on the I Need Africa button on the right. Make sure you put my name in the team member's spot, Sarah Connelly. Fill out all the information and once you click submit your tax deductible receipt will be emailed to you. You should get one in the mail also in a few weeks. When you click on the link, make sure the page that comes up is for the one month Ethiopia trip. You can also donate by check. Those instructions are listed just below the I Need Africa button. Thank you for all your support! There is no way I can get to Ethiopia without it. I also ask that you cover me with your prayers. Prayers that I raise all the funds I need, prayers that Satan minds his own business, prayers that I get prepared for what God has in store for me on this trip. Let's show Satan how big our God is!!!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Bag-O Africa Stuff Giveaway Still Going On!!
Hello everyone! I hope you are having a blessed day! I'm coming to you from my favorite city in the country, Nashville!! I'm here for just a couple of days. I had a campus visit at Lipscomb University where I have applied for their Masters program in Christian Ministry. I am really excited about this opportunity. I'm praying God's will in this situation. I am still waiting to hear if I have been accepted. This seems like a great fit for me in where God is leading me. This would mean relocating to Nashville while in school. Then we will see what God has in store for me after school is complete. I had a great time during the campus visit. They are currently on spring break so I couldn't see much. I am also looking at some apartments and have liked what I saw so far. I love this city so much. I have envisioned moving here for a few years. Every one is so nice and make you feel very welcome. It is a mix of people who have spent their how lives here and people who have moved here because they love this city like I do. And the people themselves are a very eclectic mix. Such a variety of people, cultures, music, etc. I love it!!
Just wanted to remind everyone the Bag-O-Africa giveaway is still going on. And, yes, I still have not come up with a better name! lol Each entry cost a $20 donation to my trip. For every $20 donation you make you get one entry. You can donate by clicking on the I Need Africa button on the right side of the page. Make sure the One Month Ethiopia donation page comes up on the Mocha Club site. Put my name in the team member's spot, Sarah Connelly. Fill out the form accordingly and you will get your tax deductible receipt emailed to you. This giveaway is valued over $120! This is a great deal!!! You don't want to miss you out on this!!! You have until Sunday March 27th so don't wait too much longer if you are interested!
Just wanted to remind everyone the Bag-O-Africa giveaway is still going on. And, yes, I still have not come up with a better name! lol Each entry cost a $20 donation to my trip. For every $20 donation you make you get one entry. You can donate by clicking on the I Need Africa button on the right side of the page. Make sure the One Month Ethiopia donation page comes up on the Mocha Club site. Put my name in the team member's spot, Sarah Connelly. Fill out the form accordingly and you will get your tax deductible receipt emailed to you. This giveaway is valued over $120! This is a great deal!!! You don't want to miss you out on this!!! You have until Sunday March 27th so don't wait too much longer if you are interested!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Financial Update, Prayers for Ethiopia, Bracelets, Magnets, and Bag-O-Africa Stuff
There is so much on my heart right now. My heart is heavy for Ethiopia. A country that I have fallen in love with. A people that I love so much. My heart breaks for them. If you have not heard the latest news please read this article: Thousands Homeless after Radical Muslim Attack Please pray for Ethiopia. After what has happened lately with the adoptions and now this, Ethiopia is in need of some major prayers. All of this only strengthens my feeling that I am supposed to be there this summer. God has a plan for everything, a plan for me, and a plan for me being in Ethiopia this summer. I do not know what God knows, nor will I pretend to know what He knows, I do not know what His plan is for me for this upcoming trip, but I know He wants me there for this time. I know what He wants me to do long term for Ethiopia, that He has made clear, but what it is concerning this trip I am not sure.
The last time I went to Ethiopia, in January of 2009, I was not sure why God was sending me back so shortly after I had been there (July 2008), but He had a plan and He knew exactly why He was sending me there. That trip opened my eyes to work He wants me to do in my life. If I had listened to skeptical people around me, I would had never gone. I would have never seen what He wanted me to see during that time. Every day for a week I met with 8 women who were desperate to get out of prostitution. These women were not in prostitution because they wanted to sell their bodies to get some kind of pleasure out of it. To them they saw no other choice. They owed a debt to a man they could not get out of. They took on a profession to pay this debt that had to be payed in full that could never be paid. Between paying for the rent on the little shack they called home, food for them and their children, and electricity (which was one light bulb hanging from the ceiling, if they had that) they did not have enough money to pay the debt. The debt had to be paid in full. It could not be paid in installments. The largest debt among these 8 women....$17 US dollars!! These men owned these women over $17 US dollars!!! If that is not enough to stir you in your seats I don't know what will. These women did not want a hand out. They wanted to earn the money for themselves. Want to know how much it cost for a one half hour session with a woman? 2 Birr!! You know how much American dollars that is??? 12 cents!!! That is right....12 cents!!!! No wonder they can't pay off their debt!!! They are making 12 cents every half an hour!! For a man to take what ever dignity they have left!
God opened my eyes to that last time I was in Ethiopia. If I listened to those who told me I was not supposed to go on that trip, I would have never spent that time with those women. I would have never listened to their stories. Never saw them for the women they are. The beautiful women they are. The beautiful children of the Lord they are. Before that trip I saw them as prostitutes. They aren't prostitutes. They are beautiful children of God trapped in a life of prostitution trying desperately to get out. In that trip, God revealed to me some of the work He has called me to do in my life. I'm not sure of all the details yet, but it is to work with these women, to be with them, to help them get out of this life they are trapped in over a lousy $17. I know if I didn't go on that trip He would have found another way to show me that, but why do that. Why change the way He wants to do things. I knew so surely in my heart that I was supposed to go on that trip that I had to block out all the negativity and just listen to Him and go.
That is how I feel about this trip. He is sending me for a reason. He told me last September that I would be going on this exact trip before I even knew this trip existed. He has told me on numerous occasions the funds will come in. Who am I to second guess that?? I don't know how the funds will come in, but I don't need to know that. God uses His people to do His work. One of the ways He uses His people is to help send those going to the places He is sending them. Mission trips require money. The flight costs money, the in country transportation costs money, the in country accommodations cost money. He knows this. He uses His people to supply this need. And when you think about it, it is all His money anyway. He just guides you in where to use those resources. He will let you know if you are to give to my trip. He will let you know if you are to help me get to Ethiopia. He has already chosen His people who will help me get there. He has had this orchestrated long before He even told me I was going on this trip. Now all we have to do is listen to Him. I've listened to His command and I'm going. Are you listening to Him??
There are several ways you can get involved in giving to my trip. I am selling Love Ethiopia bracelets and Love Africa magnets. The Love Ethiopia bracelets are a $5 donation/each to my trip. And the Love Africa magnets are a $6 donation/each to my trip. You can make a donation by clicking on the I Need Africa button on the right side of my blog. This will take you to the Mocha Club website. Make sure this is the page for the One Month Ethiopia trip. Once there put my name (Sarah Connelly) in the team member's name box and fill out the rest of the form accordingly. Once you submit this form you will get a tax deductible receipt emailed to you. Once you have done this, if you are ordering bracelets or magnets, email me at madeforethiopia@gmail.com and tell me how many you are ordering. Also, if you are not local, please give me your shipping address. Shipping costs are on me.
I also have a giveaway going on right now. I'm giving away a Bag-O-Africa Stuff. I couldn't come up with a better name for it so that is what I'm calling it. lol
You get all this plus a Love Ethiopia bracelet:
To get an entry into the giveaway all you have to do is make a $20 donation to my trip. This giveaway is valued over $120! That is a great deal!! For every $20 donation you make you will get one entry into the giveaway. You can donate the same way as I mentioned above. Click on the I Need Africa button to the right. This giveaway is going until Sunday March 27th. That means you only have 2 more weeks to enter! If you want to get an entry into this make sure you do it before the 27th as this will not be extended. You can see the entry just before this one to see a close up of all the individual items in this giveaway. All of the items benefit either an adoption or a ministry in Africa. If your donation is to go toward this giveaway there is no need to email me. I will know that your donation is to count as an entry from the lack of email ordering bracelets or magnets. Only email me if you are ordering something.
You can also just make a donation to my trip as well. If you make a donation, but don't want an entry into the giveaway please email me to let me know not to include you in the giveaway. All donations can be made by clicking on the I Need Africa button. You can also donate by check. Those instructions are listed just below the I Need Africa button.
Please do not think that since this is my third trip to Ethiopia in three years that I am going just to go. I would never go to just go. I would only go when prompted by the Lord to go. Many of you do not know that I signed up for a one month trip for the summer of 2009. I was so excited to go to Ethiopia that I just wanted to be there. I wanted to be back. After handing in my application and deposit, I was praying about the trip and was convicted that I was not supposed to go on that trip. I, honestly, fought that feeling for a couple of weeks because I so badly wanted to be in Ethiopia again. The Lord did not want me on that trip. He had no need for me to be on that trip. There was no reason for me to be there in that time. I had to make the decision to pull out of the trip. The reason I tell you this is because I would not be going back to Ethiopia just to go. I tried that before and the Lord made it very apparent that I was not to go. From that day I made the decision that I would not go back to Ethiopia unless I felt prompted from the Lord to go back. I felt that when I went on my first and second trips. I did not feel that when I signed up for that trip in the summer of 2009. It just was not right. I couldn't go.
The Lord wants me there this time. There is a reason. Just because I don't know what that reason is doesn't mean I'm not supposed to go. He reveals things to us in His timing. He will let me know why He wants me there when He wants me to know. When I was there in January 2009, I didn't realize why He wanted me there until after I began spending time with the 8 women. The more time I spent with them, the more time I prayed for them, and the more time I spent in meditation and devotion time with the Lord He revealed to me why He brought me back. I do not know when He will reveal to me why He wants me there this summer. It could be before I go, it could be when I first get there, it could be in the middle of ministering to somewhere, it could be on the plane coming home, or it could be after I come back home. All I know is He wants me there and that is all I need to know. I don't need to know all the whys or hows. I just need to know He wants me to go and that is good enough for me.
A quick financial update because I want to be transparent with all of you with what I need. I am fund raising for this trip and how will you all know the need if I don't let you all know. I received a financial update the other day. As of March 6th I have raised $705! Thank you all who have given to my trip! You have no idea how much I appreciate it!! This means I have $3,045 left to go. That may seem like a lot and a little overwhelming, but we serve a might God!! He moves mountains! He will definitely bring in this money! Please pray about what your part in my trip will be. I have faith this money will come in...I know it will come in! My last two trips it was nail biting watching the funds come in as the trip dates came closer and closer. I never did sit comfortably a couple months out from the trip seeing a financial update stating I was 100% funded. I have experience in waiting and showing faith and believing the funds will come in. Even when those around me doubt. I know the funds will come in. How long it will take and where they will come from? I don't know, but I don't need to know. All I need to know is that they will come in. And I am comfortable and confident in that.
I thank you for all your prayers during this time of fund raising.
The last time I went to Ethiopia, in January of 2009, I was not sure why God was sending me back so shortly after I had been there (July 2008), but He had a plan and He knew exactly why He was sending me there. That trip opened my eyes to work He wants me to do in my life. If I had listened to skeptical people around me, I would had never gone. I would have never seen what He wanted me to see during that time. Every day for a week I met with 8 women who were desperate to get out of prostitution. These women were not in prostitution because they wanted to sell their bodies to get some kind of pleasure out of it. To them they saw no other choice. They owed a debt to a man they could not get out of. They took on a profession to pay this debt that had to be payed in full that could never be paid. Between paying for the rent on the little shack they called home, food for them and their children, and electricity (which was one light bulb hanging from the ceiling, if they had that) they did not have enough money to pay the debt. The debt had to be paid in full. It could not be paid in installments. The largest debt among these 8 women....$17 US dollars!! These men owned these women over $17 US dollars!!! If that is not enough to stir you in your seats I don't know what will. These women did not want a hand out. They wanted to earn the money for themselves. Want to know how much it cost for a one half hour session with a woman? 2 Birr!! You know how much American dollars that is??? 12 cents!!! That is right....12 cents!!!! No wonder they can't pay off their debt!!! They are making 12 cents every half an hour!! For a man to take what ever dignity they have left!
God opened my eyes to that last time I was in Ethiopia. If I listened to those who told me I was not supposed to go on that trip, I would have never spent that time with those women. I would have never listened to their stories. Never saw them for the women they are. The beautiful women they are. The beautiful children of the Lord they are. Before that trip I saw them as prostitutes. They aren't prostitutes. They are beautiful children of God trapped in a life of prostitution trying desperately to get out. In that trip, God revealed to me some of the work He has called me to do in my life. I'm not sure of all the details yet, but it is to work with these women, to be with them, to help them get out of this life they are trapped in over a lousy $17. I know if I didn't go on that trip He would have found another way to show me that, but why do that. Why change the way He wants to do things. I knew so surely in my heart that I was supposed to go on that trip that I had to block out all the negativity and just listen to Him and go.
That is how I feel about this trip. He is sending me for a reason. He told me last September that I would be going on this exact trip before I even knew this trip existed. He has told me on numerous occasions the funds will come in. Who am I to second guess that?? I don't know how the funds will come in, but I don't need to know that. God uses His people to do His work. One of the ways He uses His people is to help send those going to the places He is sending them. Mission trips require money. The flight costs money, the in country transportation costs money, the in country accommodations cost money. He knows this. He uses His people to supply this need. And when you think about it, it is all His money anyway. He just guides you in where to use those resources. He will let you know if you are to give to my trip. He will let you know if you are to help me get to Ethiopia. He has already chosen His people who will help me get there. He has had this orchestrated long before He even told me I was going on this trip. Now all we have to do is listen to Him. I've listened to His command and I'm going. Are you listening to Him??
There are several ways you can get involved in giving to my trip. I am selling Love Ethiopia bracelets and Love Africa magnets. The Love Ethiopia bracelets are a $5 donation/each to my trip. And the Love Africa magnets are a $6 donation/each to my trip. You can make a donation by clicking on the I Need Africa button on the right side of my blog. This will take you to the Mocha Club website. Make sure this is the page for the One Month Ethiopia trip. Once there put my name (Sarah Connelly) in the team member's name box and fill out the rest of the form accordingly. Once you submit this form you will get a tax deductible receipt emailed to you. Once you have done this, if you are ordering bracelets or magnets, email me at madeforethiopia@gmail.com and tell me how many you are ordering. Also, if you are not local, please give me your shipping address. Shipping costs are on me.
I also have a giveaway going on right now. I'm giving away a Bag-O-Africa Stuff. I couldn't come up with a better name for it so that is what I'm calling it. lol
You get all this plus a Love Ethiopia bracelet:
To get an entry into the giveaway all you have to do is make a $20 donation to my trip. This giveaway is valued over $120! That is a great deal!! For every $20 donation you make you will get one entry into the giveaway. You can donate the same way as I mentioned above. Click on the I Need Africa button to the right. This giveaway is going until Sunday March 27th. That means you only have 2 more weeks to enter! If you want to get an entry into this make sure you do it before the 27th as this will not be extended. You can see the entry just before this one to see a close up of all the individual items in this giveaway. All of the items benefit either an adoption or a ministry in Africa. If your donation is to go toward this giveaway there is no need to email me. I will know that your donation is to count as an entry from the lack of email ordering bracelets or magnets. Only email me if you are ordering something.
You can also just make a donation to my trip as well. If you make a donation, but don't want an entry into the giveaway please email me to let me know not to include you in the giveaway. All donations can be made by clicking on the I Need Africa button. You can also donate by check. Those instructions are listed just below the I Need Africa button.
Please do not think that since this is my third trip to Ethiopia in three years that I am going just to go. I would never go to just go. I would only go when prompted by the Lord to go. Many of you do not know that I signed up for a one month trip for the summer of 2009. I was so excited to go to Ethiopia that I just wanted to be there. I wanted to be back. After handing in my application and deposit, I was praying about the trip and was convicted that I was not supposed to go on that trip. I, honestly, fought that feeling for a couple of weeks because I so badly wanted to be in Ethiopia again. The Lord did not want me on that trip. He had no need for me to be on that trip. There was no reason for me to be there in that time. I had to make the decision to pull out of the trip. The reason I tell you this is because I would not be going back to Ethiopia just to go. I tried that before and the Lord made it very apparent that I was not to go. From that day I made the decision that I would not go back to Ethiopia unless I felt prompted from the Lord to go back. I felt that when I went on my first and second trips. I did not feel that when I signed up for that trip in the summer of 2009. It just was not right. I couldn't go.
The Lord wants me there this time. There is a reason. Just because I don't know what that reason is doesn't mean I'm not supposed to go. He reveals things to us in His timing. He will let me know why He wants me there when He wants me to know. When I was there in January 2009, I didn't realize why He wanted me there until after I began spending time with the 8 women. The more time I spent with them, the more time I prayed for them, and the more time I spent in meditation and devotion time with the Lord He revealed to me why He brought me back. I do not know when He will reveal to me why He wants me there this summer. It could be before I go, it could be when I first get there, it could be in the middle of ministering to somewhere, it could be on the plane coming home, or it could be after I come back home. All I know is He wants me there and that is all I need to know. I don't need to know all the whys or hows. I just need to know He wants me to go and that is good enough for me.
A quick financial update because I want to be transparent with all of you with what I need. I am fund raising for this trip and how will you all know the need if I don't let you all know. I received a financial update the other day. As of March 6th I have raised $705! Thank you all who have given to my trip! You have no idea how much I appreciate it!! This means I have $3,045 left to go. That may seem like a lot and a little overwhelming, but we serve a might God!! He moves mountains! He will definitely bring in this money! Please pray about what your part in my trip will be. I have faith this money will come in...I know it will come in! My last two trips it was nail biting watching the funds come in as the trip dates came closer and closer. I never did sit comfortably a couple months out from the trip seeing a financial update stating I was 100% funded. I have experience in waiting and showing faith and believing the funds will come in. Even when those around me doubt. I know the funds will come in. How long it will take and where they will come from? I don't know, but I don't need to know. All I need to know is that they will come in. And I am comfortable and confident in that.
I thank you for all your prayers during this time of fund raising.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
I've Missed You All And Bag-O-Africa Stuff Giveaway!!!
I apologize for the long absence. I moved on Saturday February 26th and do not have internet at the new house yet. I am currently sitting at Starbucks using their internet and listening to some Brandon Heath. I'm catching up on all I have missed the last week or so. Frankly, I haven't really missed that much! lol It's amazing how much time the internet really eats up! A lot of my week was spent unpacking, but I was able to spend a lot of time with God, in the Word, praying, and concentrating on my upcoming trip to Ethiopia. It has been a great week. I was able to refocus on so many things without the distraction of the internet. Of course I was going a little stir crazy without the internet at one point! All my fund raising for my trip is online so I felt very disconnected from it all. I have this totally awesome giveaway (at least I think so! ;)) that I have been anxious to start, but without access to the internet have been unable to do so. I'm not sure when I will have internet up and running at home, but I will be starting this giveaway today.
This week away from the internet and all its distractions has allowed me to refocus on why I am going to Ethiopia this summer. The Lord has placed a calling on my life that involves Ethiopia. This is the place I was created to be a part of. Part of my service here on earth is meant to be in Ethiopia. God has created each and every one of us for specific purposes. One of those purposes for myself is in Ethiopia. In Matthew 28 Jesus commands us to "Go and make disciples of all nations." There are too many people who have turned this command into a calling. This is a command. This is not something that some people are called to do and some aren't. This is what we are all commanded to do. Now, I believe, we all have our own role in this. I do not believe we all are supposed to go to every single nation ourselves. That would be very exhausting. But God has chosen those He will equip to go to specific nations.
I am not going to sit here and say I am equipped to go to Peru or Russia, or China, or Iraq, etc. That is not something God has placed in my heart or instructed me to do. He has placed in my heart and instructed me to go to Ethiopia. And that feeling gets stronger every day. And everyday that gets closer to the day I leave on this my third trip that feeling gets stronger and stronger.
As I type this all out the following saying keeps resounding in my head "God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called." I keep thinking about how true this is for me. I do not feel in any way qualified to do His work in Ethiopia. I remember before my first trip thinking "Are you sure, God? Do you really want to send me? Isn't there someone more qualified than me?" And He kept saying "I'm sending you." And I'm not saying this to say I have no idea what I am doing and I shouldn't be going on this trip. But it is like anything else in life. God gives you the ability to handle any situation that arises. You are at an orphanage for children who are HIV+ and a child walks up to you. They are obviously not well. Before you go, you do not know this situation is going to happen, but in that moment God will give you the ability to know how to comfort that child. And that child wanted what any child wants when they are not feeling well. He wanted to be held. At that point the language barrier did not matter. Love was the only language that mattered. As I held him, I showed him the love of Christ and gave him comfort in his time of need. I never in my greatest imagination could foresee that situation, but God gave me the words to use or in this case the lack of words to use. He qualifies the called. He equips those He sends.
My latest fundraiser is going to be a Bag-O-Africa Stuff Giveaway. I honestly couldn't think of a better name for it, so that is that best you all are going to get. lol I think this is a great giveaway! I wish I could keep this stuff for myself, but I would rather go to Ethiopia!! Here is how this is going to run. This giveaway starts today and will go until Sunday March 27th. You have 3 weeks to enter! You will enter the same way you entered for the gift card. Donate through the Mocha Club donation system either on their website or through check. All donations through MC are tax deductible. You can make a donation online by clicking on the I Need Africa button on the right. It will bring up a new page (Mocha Club website) that is for the One Month Ethiopia trip (make sure it is the correct page). Make sure you put in my name in the team member slot: Sarah Connelly. Instructions for giving by check are immediately below the I Need Africa button.
Each entry is a $20 donation to my trip. That means if you donate $20 to my trip you get one entry, if you donate $40 you get 2 entries, and so on. I will get financial updates from Mocha Club with your name and donation amount and will correspond your entry accordingly. This giveaway is worth over $120!!!! That is an awesome deal!!! Everything in this giveaway benefits either a family adopting from Ethiopia or an organization working in Africa. I will give more information (if I have it) on each picture.
Overview (all the stuff!):
T-Shirt! This shirt benefits my wonderful friends Erica and Dave Shubin on the adoption of their daughter from Ethiopia. You can check out their blog here.
Necklace! This necklace benefits the work my friend Christie Cotney is doing in the Bugabo village in Uganda. Check out her blog to see the amazing work God is doing in this village. They just got clean water....you really want to check this out!!
Wooden Africa Art. I didn't know what to call this! lol I bought this on Etsy. I don't remember the store name right now, but will post it when I find it. I remember it did benefit a family adopting from Ethiopia (that was my criteria when buying on Etsy).
Africa Window Cling. This one is hard to see. I have this on my car. I love it! This is actually the same people I bought mine from over a year ago. Again, I can't find the store name right now but will post when I find it.
I Love Ethiopia bag! This is from Etsy as well. This also benefits a family adopting from Ethiopia. I will post the store name when I find it. I really like this one!
Three Avocados Coffee!!! This is a wonderful coffee company. The coffee is so good and the company itself is great. They are non-profit and all the net proceeds go directly towards clean water in Uganda. Check out their website here.
The Hole In Our Gospel by Rich Stearns! This book is by the president of World Vision USA. I do a lot of volunteer work with World Vision and am a Child Ambassador with them (if you are interested in child sponsorship contact me! :)). I am actually a little embarrassed to say, I haven't read this yet! It is on my list though!! I got this copy free for getting x amount of children sponsored. Since I already have the book, I thought I would put it in to the giveaway.
I will also put in one Love Ethiopia bracelet!!
I think that is an amazing giveaway!! What about you?!?! All that for just a $20 donation entry?!?!?!?! That is pretty awesome!! Also as a reminder you can purchase the Love Ethiopia bracelets for $5/each. Just make a $5 donation to my trip and then send me an email to madeforethiopia@gmail.com with your shipping address with how many you ordered. (If you are local you do not need to give me your address, just let me know how many you ordered). I will verify this with the financial update and send you the bracelets. The $5 donation for the bracelets and the $20 donation for the giveaway are different. If you donate $20 for an entry into the giveaway, that does NOT mean you get 4 bracelets. You have to purchase them separately and then notify me of the purchase. You do NOT have have notify me of the entry just the purchase of the bracelets. I also have 10 Love Africa magnets I am selling for a $6/each. To purchase bracelets or magnets just make a donation as you normally would and then email me with what your ordered, how many, and your address. This is the best way I could come up with how to do this with everyone getting their tax deduction. I know it makes things a little confusing especially with the giveaway now, but I'll keep it all straight.
Thank you for all your donations! Hopefully I will have internet up and running again soon. If you have emailed me already in regards to ordering bracelets or magnets, I apologize for not getting back to you. Things have been crazy with the move and then not having internet have made things difficult. I hope to be back on track soon. Thank you for bearing with me!
This week away from the internet and all its distractions has allowed me to refocus on why I am going to Ethiopia this summer. The Lord has placed a calling on my life that involves Ethiopia. This is the place I was created to be a part of. Part of my service here on earth is meant to be in Ethiopia. God has created each and every one of us for specific purposes. One of those purposes for myself is in Ethiopia. In Matthew 28 Jesus commands us to "Go and make disciples of all nations." There are too many people who have turned this command into a calling. This is a command. This is not something that some people are called to do and some aren't. This is what we are all commanded to do. Now, I believe, we all have our own role in this. I do not believe we all are supposed to go to every single nation ourselves. That would be very exhausting. But God has chosen those He will equip to go to specific nations.
I am not going to sit here and say I am equipped to go to Peru or Russia, or China, or Iraq, etc. That is not something God has placed in my heart or instructed me to do. He has placed in my heart and instructed me to go to Ethiopia. And that feeling gets stronger every day. And everyday that gets closer to the day I leave on this my third trip that feeling gets stronger and stronger.
As I type this all out the following saying keeps resounding in my head "God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called." I keep thinking about how true this is for me. I do not feel in any way qualified to do His work in Ethiopia. I remember before my first trip thinking "Are you sure, God? Do you really want to send me? Isn't there someone more qualified than me?" And He kept saying "I'm sending you." And I'm not saying this to say I have no idea what I am doing and I shouldn't be going on this trip. But it is like anything else in life. God gives you the ability to handle any situation that arises. You are at an orphanage for children who are HIV+ and a child walks up to you. They are obviously not well. Before you go, you do not know this situation is going to happen, but in that moment God will give you the ability to know how to comfort that child. And that child wanted what any child wants when they are not feeling well. He wanted to be held. At that point the language barrier did not matter. Love was the only language that mattered. As I held him, I showed him the love of Christ and gave him comfort in his time of need. I never in my greatest imagination could foresee that situation, but God gave me the words to use or in this case the lack of words to use. He qualifies the called. He equips those He sends.
My latest fundraiser is going to be a Bag-O-Africa Stuff Giveaway. I honestly couldn't think of a better name for it, so that is that best you all are going to get. lol I think this is a great giveaway! I wish I could keep this stuff for myself, but I would rather go to Ethiopia!! Here is how this is going to run. This giveaway starts today and will go until Sunday March 27th. You have 3 weeks to enter! You will enter the same way you entered for the gift card. Donate through the Mocha Club donation system either on their website or through check. All donations through MC are tax deductible. You can make a donation online by clicking on the I Need Africa button on the right. It will bring up a new page (Mocha Club website) that is for the One Month Ethiopia trip (make sure it is the correct page). Make sure you put in my name in the team member slot: Sarah Connelly. Instructions for giving by check are immediately below the I Need Africa button.
Each entry is a $20 donation to my trip. That means if you donate $20 to my trip you get one entry, if you donate $40 you get 2 entries, and so on. I will get financial updates from Mocha Club with your name and donation amount and will correspond your entry accordingly. This giveaway is worth over $120!!!! That is an awesome deal!!! Everything in this giveaway benefits either a family adopting from Ethiopia or an organization working in Africa. I will give more information (if I have it) on each picture.
Overview (all the stuff!):
T-Shirt! This shirt benefits my wonderful friends Erica and Dave Shubin on the adoption of their daughter from Ethiopia. You can check out their blog here.
Necklace! This necklace benefits the work my friend Christie Cotney is doing in the Bugabo village in Uganda. Check out her blog to see the amazing work God is doing in this village. They just got clean water....you really want to check this out!!
Wooden Africa Art. I didn't know what to call this! lol I bought this on Etsy. I don't remember the store name right now, but will post it when I find it. I remember it did benefit a family adopting from Ethiopia (that was my criteria when buying on Etsy).
Africa Window Cling. This one is hard to see. I have this on my car. I love it! This is actually the same people I bought mine from over a year ago. Again, I can't find the store name right now but will post when I find it.
I Love Ethiopia bag! This is from Etsy as well. This also benefits a family adopting from Ethiopia. I will post the store name when I find it. I really like this one!
Three Avocados Coffee!!! This is a wonderful coffee company. The coffee is so good and the company itself is great. They are non-profit and all the net proceeds go directly towards clean water in Uganda. Check out their website here.
The Hole In Our Gospel by Rich Stearns! This book is by the president of World Vision USA. I do a lot of volunteer work with World Vision and am a Child Ambassador with them (if you are interested in child sponsorship contact me! :)). I am actually a little embarrassed to say, I haven't read this yet! It is on my list though!! I got this copy free for getting x amount of children sponsored. Since I already have the book, I thought I would put it in to the giveaway.
I will also put in one Love Ethiopia bracelet!!
I think that is an amazing giveaway!! What about you?!?! All that for just a $20 donation entry?!?!?!?! That is pretty awesome!! Also as a reminder you can purchase the Love Ethiopia bracelets for $5/each. Just make a $5 donation to my trip and then send me an email to madeforethiopia@gmail.com with your shipping address with how many you ordered. (If you are local you do not need to give me your address, just let me know how many you ordered). I will verify this with the financial update and send you the bracelets. The $5 donation for the bracelets and the $20 donation for the giveaway are different. If you donate $20 for an entry into the giveaway, that does NOT mean you get 4 bracelets. You have to purchase them separately and then notify me of the purchase. You do NOT have have notify me of the entry just the purchase of the bracelets. I also have 10 Love Africa magnets I am selling for a $6/each. To purchase bracelets or magnets just make a donation as you normally would and then email me with what your ordered, how many, and your address. This is the best way I could come up with how to do this with everyone getting their tax deduction. I know it makes things a little confusing especially with the giveaway now, but I'll keep it all straight.
Thank you for all your donations! Hopefully I will have internet up and running again soon. If you have emailed me already in regards to ordering bracelets or magnets, I apologize for not getting back to you. Things have been crazy with the move and then not having internet have made things difficult. I hope to be back on track soon. Thank you for bearing with me!
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