ROWAN BEADS OF HOPE

made by the hands of Ugandan Women...

these necklaces and earrings were all hand made by the woman in the Mawanga village. every piece was intricately made and represents someone. there are faces behind these beautifully made necklaces. there is hope in their eyes again.

my dear friend kelsey works with women from all different backgrounds, but particularly widows; which is part of the heart of ROWAN - Rural Orphans and Widows Aids Network. 

when she came to visit me in texas back in january she left these necklaces and calenders....

the truth is they need to be sold so that the ministry can receive support. i haven't been the best at focusing on that goal, BUT NOW i am making that my top priority. i am asking for your help...

you will bless so many others by supporting ROWAN through buying one of these items. all proceeds go straight back to ROWAN!

necklaces = $10

earrings = $5/pair

calenders = $10

watch this video see how these necklaces were made...

if you are interested, leave a comment and your contact information if i don't have it already. i will mail you the items you want! email me, call me, facebook me....lets work together to get these sold for the women in Uganda! 

going to all nations...Acts 1:8

when God says "go"..He is speaking to everyone of us.

God is not asking us, He is commanding us.

i have 3 friends who have recently left for 3  different countries and nations...Haiti, Zimbabwe, and Ukraine

they have said, "yes, Lord" and put everything aside to "go" on behalf of the Him.


i ask for prayer for them... pray that God will give them insight, wisdom, discernment, encouragement, energy, boldness, and refreshing strength every day in what they will be doing. they are being the hands and feet of Christ to the people of those countries. i am honored to call them friends.

Whitney Turner - Haiti Medical Team

Hannah Leigh Hatterrick - working on a farm in Zimbabwe 

Brittney Snodgress (and the team) - Kiev, Ukraine

redirected

today i was suppose to arrive at the airport with bags packed and passport in hand.

today i was suppose to sit with other team members on a 15 hour plane ride to Kiev,Ukraine.

today i battled the emotions knowing they were leaving and i was staying.

i wonder if i made the right decision?
i wonder if i will miss out on a life changing experience?
i wonder what's the reason for me not going?

in the midst of battling the emotions and the questions, i realized that i have to trust the One who knows the plan over mine. i can try to create this wonderful idea and get all the details worked out in my head on what i am going to do and where i will go. however, every time i take a step in that direction i get redirected. not completely, but just a different route then what i was suspecting. change is hard. even a slight change can cause you to do a little reevaluation.

knowing our team from church is in route to Kiev, i feel more responsible to pray for them and for what God has in store for each member as they step foot unto the soil of Ukraine. for them...the soil has been prepared. it is ready to receive them. in obedience to the Lord, i know now that it was not for me to go with them. i need and want to pass the torch along. i choose to be a doorholder for those who have not ventured outside their comfort zone to see all that God has waiting for them.

i also know, the soil for where i am to go is being prepared. it is being cultivated and enriched. i can't wait to step foot in the place God alone has prepared for me. i feel it's coming soon...

Pictures from Joplin, MO

the sun rising as we drive up to Joplin, MO

 many pictures...but not enough to truly display the magnitude of the tornado damage

at one of the homes we were working at...

Katherine and John Sweeney's Home 

(Katherine is in the white shirt)

the Sweeney's House 2 weeks after the tornado

side view of the sweeney's house

backyard shot of the house

the living room that the family was sitting in..seconds after they ran to the safe room the chimney collapsed and fell through the second floor onto where they were

a few of us finding shade on a break

randy snodgress getting a bit feisty after several days of working

found a rather large pot and wanted to try out my balancing skills like those beautiful people in Africa...

guess i need more work!

joy instead of sorrow...

Today we went back to "sunset drive" (what we call the house/neighborhood of our work project) to continue working on the house we were at yesterday. We separated out the wood, trees, sheet rock, trash, and any salvagable items the family may want. We also had the privilege of Katherine (wife, mom, homeowner) coming by. We prayed over her and presented her with a Bible that each of us signed. Another girl and I worked side by side with her to load the items we retrieved from the rubble. The time spent with her was powerful in many ways.

She was overwhelmed with tears of joy when we handed her the blankets of her two daughters. She was without words in gratefulness for the work our team had done. I also was moved to tears in seeing the joy & excitement in her.

These moments were worth it. It was worth all the sweat, all the lifting and moving, all the heavy carrying, and all the energy. There is restoration happening. It may be slow, but it's happening. One house and one family at a time. They will stand up again and they will endure!

I am honored and privilege to know this family and serve them. The body of Christ, working in one accord, is beautiful and powerful!

Christ is All,
Joy

Serving in Joplin

Where do you begin trying to put your life back together? Where do you begin searching for your things when they could be anywhere in a 70mile radius? Where do you begin..?

That's what kept going through my mind as our team began going through some of the damaged homes today.

You may find something that belongs to two houses down. You keep digging through layers and layers when you don't even know where the ground level is. It is a daunting task but the desire to rebuild is evident. They are hurting yes. They are broken. They are still in shock. BUT there is a deep hope rising. There are strong emotions of thankfulness & gratefulness of life.

I am so thankful to be here & to serve where we can. Tomorrow we are working with Samaritans Purse. We are staying at a church outside of Joplin. The church body here is unbelievable in making meals for us while we are here. Again, I am a small part of something so much greater than I can fathom.

Praying Jesus shines down & lifts up the hearts of the hurting!

Joy