Collection week is this week, November 17 - 23, and it’s not too late to pack a shoebox for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child!

Don’t know how to what to pack? Here’s what we packed in one of ours for a boy 10 -14 years old:

But here’s an even better instructional:

Please take the time to fill a box yourself and drop it off at nearby location (if you live in Winchester, VA, our church Grace Community Church is the regional drop off location) or give online.

Can you imagine the smile your box will bring to a child who would otherwise receive nothing for Christmas? Think about it. Pray about it.

”For God loves cheerful giver.”  ~2 Corinthians 9:7

Finally after 6 months of waiting (remember when I bought my tickets?), Michael, Lilli, & I enjoyed an late afternoon of Cirque du Soleil entertainment- Kooza!

It was nice to have some time with Lilli - Corinne & Eleanor were at Great Grandma Jo’s house, where we ended up spending the night (she is so hospitable and I cannot tell you how much I love spending time with her!).

However, there were some pros and cons about the show:

Pros
* AMAZING talent!
* Non-stop action…other than intermission.
* Incredible costumes
* Not a bad seat in the house - but I was excited that we were only 4 rows from the stage

Cons:
* WAY too expensive snackie foods (a Pepsi was over six bucks!)
* I’ve been spoiled by La Nouba and Kooza didn’t have the same “wow” moments. (This act was left out…which I was REALLY looking forward to seeing!)
* Too much adult humor. Even though the kids didn’t *get* the jokes, I still could have done without them - especially when one clown fainted and another went to give him CPR…well let’s just say that them rolling around on the floor while kinky music playing in the background is not something I wanted to watch or have to distract my 5 year old from. It’s too bad that from now on I will have to call ahead to make sure there is no inappropriate content - and then explain what I mean by “inappropriate.”

Overall though, I’m thankful we were able to see a show and spend some fun time with our oldest gal

I’ve been wanting to write about Musee for quite some time now - and now is the perfect time to introduce you all to him. Musee is a 6 year old boy living in Kenya and when I saw his picture pop up on my Compassion widget (to the lower right) on my blog, my stomach immediately turned upside down. His eyes just spoke to me and I had to chuckle when I saw how he was standing - tall and straight, with his hands firmly at his sides…sort of the way Lilli looks when I tell her to stop squirming around so much..lol. I wanted to reach out, hug him, and tell him God loves him so much and everything is going to be okay. The Holy Spirit was really moving my heart…so I did what any other mother who wants a gazillion children did…I ran downstairs and talked a billion miles a second, explaining to my dear hubby just “why we HAVE to sponsor this child!” And of course Michael paused, smiled, and said, “we can sponsor him.”
And yesterday I got a letter from him - I don’t think my fingers could have opened the envelope fast enough! When I saw a letter from Compassion yesterday that read “Message from Your Sponsored Child,” I had to bust out a signature Aunt Melissa “LLLAAAAHHHH!”

Here’s what Musee’s letter said:

* He lives with his mother, father, and two sisters (one older and one younger).
* His best friend is Peter.
* He likes to play “seek and hide.”
* His favorite song is: “In Heaven There Are Mansions” (although I’m sure some of the homes we live in would be considered as such)
* His favorite food is rice (but with the global food crisis, I doubt he gets many options)
* His favorite Bible verse is: Col 3:20 “Children obey your parents in all things for this pleases the Lord.” Lilli was VERY excited about that since that was the second verse she memorized!
* His favorite subject is numbers (I’m assuming math)
* His favorite color is red
* When he grows up he wants to be a doctor. He even drew a picture- complete with a vaccination…lol (Hey, I still have memories of getting shots at the doctor’s office…ouch!)
* Here is my favorite part (as I tear up, yet again): Musee says, “I am happy to know that you are my sponsor. Thank you and may God bless you. Please pray that our friendship grows & that one day we meet.”

Oh, Musee! If there was one thing I could do this very moment, that would be it!

To learn how you can give a child clothing, food, medical attention, education, and so much more with your friendship and prayers, visit Compassion International.

It’s almost that time again! I’m sure you’ve seen the decorations in the stores, the countdowns, and just my excitement alone in this post…Christmas is right around the corner!!

Some of you have probably started making your lists and many of you I know have already started shopping. In fact, I know one friend in particular who already has her Christmas cards ready to be mailed! Pretty soon we’ll be hearing Christmas songs (24/7…lol) and people will be sipping hot cocoa, apple cider, or egg nog. Children (and some of those who are still kids at heart) will be bundled up having snowball fights out back- or for those who live in warmer climates, will be decorating palm trees with Christmas lights while wearing shorts…lol. It’s so much fun this time of year to spread peace, joy, and love to those who are close to us!

But what about those don’t live close to us? Who don’t live in a peaceful, joyous, or loving environment? Those who would rather be sleeping (to fight hunger pains) after working 12-14 hour days than playing? Those who don’t even have shoes to wear? What about those who won’t receive even one Christmas gift? Can you imagine not being able to provide even a piece of candy to your child at Christmas?

Thankfully, Samaritan’s Purse provides a way for generous people, like yourselves, to give a child a special Christmas through its Operation Christmas Child Program: “Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project…”

Would you please fill even one shoebox for a child who would otherwise not receive a gift? You can fill one yourself and drop it off at nearby location (if you live in Winchester, VA, our church Grace Community Church is the regional drop off location) or give online.

Target, Walmart, and other stores usually have a novelty section where you can get toys, pencils, stickers, etc. for $1 or less. I know hard candy is only $0.50 - $1 in the checkout lane. Just imagine what even $5 could mean to a child at Christmas.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (by clicking the purple envelope at the top of this page), or anyone at Samaritan’s Purse. Please pray about this…”For God loves cheerful giver.” ~2 Corinthians 9:7

Yesterday it was cold. And it rained…and rained ALL.DAY.LONG. Yes, Fall is here. Don’t get me wrong, Fall is my favorite season - the cooler weather (or as I like to refer to as “jacket weather”), shorter days (I love waking up when it’s still dark out!), and the colors of the leaves changing (the red ones are my favorite!) put a smile on my face. But the rain…well, I could do without so much of it. The grass gets all squishy and gets tracked inside the house. More recently though, I found not one, but two small leaks in the roof of our closet yesterday morning. Drip…drip…drip….onto our carpeted floor.

That’s right, I said SMALL leaks on our CARPETED floor. Think about that for a moment…

Now think about what having a roof leak might be like if you lived in a home like this:

A typical home in Uganda or Kenya, like the one above, is made from mud with dirt floors, and either has an iron sheet or thatched roof. The homes are small with usually one room - they don’t have the luxury of a closet.

Well at least they don’t have to worry about squishy grass right? Right, during the rainy season, a rushing river of water down their unpaved dirt roads is way better…(that was sarcasm…)

And in the dry season? Most people get their drinking water from either a seasonal river or hand-dug wells, both of which are contaminated. People walk miles each day to haul water back home. There’s no quick drive to the grocery store to purchase crisp and clean bottled water, or food for that matter. (I’ve written about the Global Food Crisis before).

So how can you help? Through Compassion International, you can sponsor a child, give to the Global Food Crisis Fund, or even make a one time donation. Visit Compassion to see what else you can do to make a difference.

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward him for what he has done.”
~Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)

I sponsor Joan in Uganda and thought hands down that I would score “Africa” on this test. But, here is my result for The “Where Should I Sponsor a Child?” Test…

Compassion International works in five countries in Asia.  Thailand, Bangladesh, the Philippines, India and Indonesia. Meet the children!

Asia is the world’s largest and most densely populated continent. The people of Asia are known for their hospitality, generosity, and great respect for parents and grandparents. From colorful saris and salwar kameez to the Batik cloth of Indonesia – there is artistry everywhere. The music and dance of the region is distinctive. The sound of the sitar is particularly tied to this area. Dance with bamboo sticks in the Philippines or put on a puppet show in Thailand. India enjoys a thriving film industry. Fish, rice and spicy curries are the local cuisine.

This part of the world also suffers from natural disasters on a massive scale. Many countries are hit by annual monsoons and floods that displace millions of people. These disasters destroy homes and livelihoods and result in crushing poverty for those hardest hit. Because of widespread poverty, child trafficking has become an issue in this region. Children are lured by traffickers with the promise that they will be given an education or a better life – only to end up in the sex trade or as slaves. Families often feel that they have no other option for their children.

~ Information courtesy of Lisa Miles and her test at HelloQuizzy.com

You can go HERE to take your “Where Should I Sponsor a Child?” test.

Yesterday, I received a couple things from Compassion International:

(1) A letter from our five year old sponsored child, Joan.

I write Joan at least twice a week and Michael knows that I’m always looking forward to receiving her letters, which travel all the way from a village near Lira, Uganda. So when he *casually* handed me the Compassion envelope, he wasn’t surprised that I ripped it open. Here is what Joan (through her translator) wrote:

Joan sends her greetings in Jesus’ name. She says her family sends greetings too. She says she is grateful for the letters you sent her, a photo, and the lovely stickers, which she has attached three below to make you see. Joan says she likes to do errands at home and also studies is going on well. She says she has been playing jacks with her friends and she is learning to skip the rope better. She says she sees doves, pigeons, and eagles. Joan says she wishes you and the family God’s blessings. At school she says she has learned to greet her teachers and welcome them in class. She says she has learned to play with friends. At home Joan says she learned how to greet visitors while kneeling to show respect. She fetches water with small jerricans. At the [Compassion] Centre she says she has learned to sing and dance to praise God and to close her eyes during prayers and say, ‘Amen.’ Joan says she loved your photos so much and that she loves Lilli and Corinne so much. She says she loves you and Michael too. She appreciates all the letters and stickers. Joan asks if the weather is hot there like this place. She prays that God blesses her, gives her health, and that she studies well. Joan thanks God for giving her the best sponsor who loves her so much. [Describing a picture] Joan says she has drawn a ball, children, and a jerrican.

It’s amazing to see how much Joan has grown in the last year. Her first letters were not as detailed and her drawings have become more than just squiggly lines. I’m so proud that she’s growing well and remembers to praise God in everything she does.

(2) A letter about the global food crisis. (below is an excerpt from Compassion’s site)

I’ve come across a few posts that really get my mind thinking, hold me accountable, and are encouraging. I thought I’d pass them along to you
*** (1) ***
Thanks to Jess for sharing this on her blog.

A few snippets from Randy Alcorn’s post: Sacrificing Children on a Republican Altar?

“…evangelical spokesperson (Pat Robertson) -though I’m not sure who Robertson really represents anymore-would turn his back on unborn children to endorse Giuliani, who favors legalized abortion, is tragic.”

“If, like many, you get upset about the fact that people would post (abortion) pictures or that I would link to them, I suggest you reserve your outrage for those who defend the right to commit such atrocities against children. It is not the photos that are immoral-it is abortion that is immoral. The photos only tell the truth most of us don’t want to see. It is the height of hypocrisy to support a candidate who defends legalized abortion, while getting mad at people who show the truth about abortion because the truth is so horrible.”

“…the one with the best chance of winning, I think, is Mike Huckabee. But regardless of what we think about his chances, why would we not choose someone who we have reason to believe will live by God-honoring principles and stand for the unborn and marriage and family and religious freedom whether in victory or defeat?”

“You have no control over who in the end votes for Hillary Clinton. You do have control over who you vote for. You won’t be held accountable for someone else voting for a pro-abortion candidate. You will be held accountable if you vote for such a candidate. “But he was a Republican, Lord,” you may say at the judgment seat. “But I’m not a Republican,” Jesus may say. “I’m the original Independent.”"

It’s a long post, but it’s worth your time to read!

*** (2) ***
A few snippet’s from Josh Malone’s , The Church at the County Fair

“One thing I noticed while walking through…is that there are a variety of booths promoting a variety of organizations and ideas.”

“…in a Southern county the fair represents a place where almost everyone’s lives intersect…It is in these places the church must make an impact and influence people’s lives with the Gospel.”"

“The chain smoking, truck driving, gun toting, Hank Williams Jr. worshipping, country boy is more likely to listen to the gospel coming from the guy that he shared a laugh or a good time with.”

*** (3) ***
A few snippet’s from Mrs. H’s, The Danger of Self-Pity

“As Christian women, wives, and mothers, we are called to imitate the Standard to which all of society is held, and society is teaching us to be increasingly unhappy and dissatisfied with what we have.”

“…we all have bad days, where it seems that nothing goes right, but it’s how we react to those days that our children see and imitate.”

“Having several small children underfoot can be a challenge and is most definitely a source of exhaustion for the mother. However, we must guard our hearts against the thought that our children are a burden, or are constantly causing us more work. The Lord gave us these children because He trusted us to raise them in a godly home for His glory.”