Micah Six Eight

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Mulligan Stew 2014

The news was horrible!!

Almost as soon as I hit send last Friday on my blogpost, FEEDING 400 ORPHANS, fighting broke out in the very area where the camps will be held.

People died.

Most of them were not citizens of that country. They were instigators. Terrorists. There to stir up trouble. And trouble came.

I e-mailed the ministry team.

What are you going to do?

They are pressing forward.

And I am standing beside them in full support. The Lord opened a door for 600 orphans to go to camp this summer and come rain or snow or hail or WAR - those kids are going to camp!! Unless the Lord closes the door - they are pressing forward.

200 children have already been sponsored.

400 children are left.

It's a MULLIGAN STEW.

We have gathered a potful of ingredients in the hopes that many will be fed.

60 prizes have been donated for our stew.

400 children have been invited to our table.

FOUR HUNDRED MOUTHS TO FEED.

Each one so very precious and of great value.

Orphans.

I've been on my knees for weeks now. $24,000 is a lot of money. This is just one tiny blog. I am not feeling very brave or strong or mighty. I'm trembling.

But then I see pictures from the camp last year. Where 250 children were able to run and play free. And I just can't turn away. Despite how big this seems.

All I can do is share the need.

And Pray!

The children going to camp are living in orphanages and institutes and internats from villages outside the city. They are the poorest of the poor. They are going because God opened this door.

They will arrive at the camp without a toothbrush or a comb or a sleeping bag or pillow. No Mama to pack their clothes. No Papa to hug them one last time before they get on the bus. They will come with just the clothes on their back.

Orphans.

Typical and special needs. Older teens. Little ones.

This is their opportunity to get away. To be children. To laugh. To run. To play. To sing. To listen to stories about Jesus. To be surrounded by volunteers who are there for the sole purpose of loving on them. Most of the children will have never ever experienced a camp like this. It will be a totally new and amazing experience and honestly - I wish with all of my heart that I could be there to see them and love on them!

I can't be there but I can help make it possible.

Come rain or shine or war in their very backyard... these babes are going to camp!!

Here it is...

Our Mulligan Stew.

Our goal - Raise $24,000 so that 400 children can go to camp.

Each child needs $60.00.

Since I posted last Friday we have already had 9 children sponsored.

391 left to go.

Every single one matters!

It's easy.

1. Donate. HERE!! Any amount.

2. Leave a comment (first/last name and amount- I will not post if you ask me not to post)

THAT'S IT!! You are entered to win one of SIXTY prizes. Every five dollar gets you one entry.

3. Sharing gets you an entry too!! Even if you can't donate!

The more you give, the more you share, the greater your chances of winning a prize.

HERE ARE THE AMAZING PRIZES....

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APPLE IPAD MINI

16 GB Wi-Fi

$299.00 Value

Thanks Trish!

A BEAUTIFUL Sterling silver gold plated starfish necklace on an 18 inch chain!

$250.00 Value!!!

Thanks Karla!!

$250.00 Gift Card!!!!

Thanks Stori!!

$200.00 Visa Gift Card

Thanks Hansina!

NEW BRIGHTON BEAD CHARM BRACELET

$164.00 Value

Thanks Christine

LIKE NEW - MEN'S SEIKO KINETIC WATCH

$150.00 Value!

Thanks Karla!

$100.00 PICK A CHILD ON REECE'S RAINBOW

Thanks Sue!!

NEW - APPLE TV

"Apple TV is a tiny entertainment powerhouse that gives you access to the biggest names in entertainment, in up to 1080p HD. Just plug it in and enjoy a whole world of movies, TV shows, sports, music, and more. And you can show anything that’s on your Mac or iOS device on your HDTV with AirPlay."

Value $99.00

Thanks Hansina!!

NEW - ONE EBOOK BUNDLE - WINNER'S CHOICE

ANY YEAR!

$100+ Value

Thanks Rob!

DINNER AND MOVIE PACKAGE

$50.00 gift card to a restaurant of choice: Olive Garden, Applebees, Red Lobster, Panera etc)

$25.00 gift card to a movie (AMC, NCG or Cinemark)

$75.00 Value

Thank you Friend of Baby House 1!!

KATE SPADE - Nearly New Purse - Georgia Pewter Leather Shoulder Handbag!

$75.00 Value

Thanks Marianne!!

NEW!! Set of Three History Craft Books

Filled with 100+ Hands on Fun History Activities~

$65.00 Value!!

Thanks Rob!

$50.00 Chuck E. Cheese Gift Card!

Thank you Friend of Baby House 1!!

NEW - DISNEY Jolly Roger Adventure Set

$55.00 Value

Thanks Summer!

NEW!!! NORWEX HOUSEHOLD PACKAGE

Comes with an Enviro Cloth, Window Cloth and Dusting Mitt!

$48.00 Value

Thanks Erika!

COACH - Nearly New Purse - Patent Leather Clutch bag with chain handles!!

$45.00 Value

Thanks Marianne!!

COACH - NEW!! Leather Key Fob

$40.00 Value

Thanks Amy!

LIMITED EDITION Barred Owls painted on canvas

7.5" x 7.5" print Painted by Jen Kroll of Chookhenge Studio

$40.00 Value

Thank You Jen!

Target Gift Card

$25.00 Value

Thanks Rob!

Bath and Body Card

$25.00 Value

Thanks Lisa!!

Restaurant Gift Card

(Olive Garden/Red Lobster/Longhorn Steakhouse/Bahama Breeze/Seasons 52)

$25.00 Value

Thanks Lisa!

Outback Gift Card

$25.00 Value

Thanks Jennifer!!

$25.00 Starbucks Gift Card

Thanks Annette!!

$25.00 Target Gift Card

Thanks Annette!!

$20.00 AMAZON GIFT CARD

Thanks Kate!!

Winner's Choice HANDMADE Wall Plaque!!

$20.00 Value!!

Thanks Debbie!!

One Dozen CUSTOM MADE COOKIES!

These are AMAZING!

$20.00 Value

Thanks Kerri!!

One Dozen CUSTOM MADE COOKIES!

These are AMAZING!

$20.00 Value

Thanks Kerri!!

BEAUTIFUL Solid Color Ugandan Magazine Bead Necklaces

4 WINNERS

Tan Necklace - $20.00 Value

Orange Necklace - $20.00 Value

Purple Necklace - $20.00 Value

Blue Necklace - $20.00 Value

Thanks Christine!

UKRA*N* TREAT PACK!!

Dark and milk chocolate bars, cookies, tea and a wooden magnet all bought in Ukra*n*!!

$20.00 Value

Thanks Christine!

BEAUTIFUL Multi-colored Ugandan Magazine Bead Necklaces

4 WINNERS

Multi-colored Necklace - Value $20.00

Thanks Christine!

Gluten Free Bread Mix (3)

$18.00 Value!

Thanks TT!

BARNES AND NOBLES GIFT CARD

$15.00 Value

Thanks Jennifer!!

BEAUTIFUL Uganda Short Bead Necklace

$10.00 Value

Thanks Christine

BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE UKRA*NI*N DOLLS!!

Purchased in Ukra*ne!

10 WINNERS (and I want to be one!!)

HANDMADE DOLL - $10.00 Value

BEAUTIFUL Uganda Beaded Coil Bracelets

5 WINNERS

Beaded Coil Bracelet - $10.00 Value

Thanks Christine!

NEW - Bill Bryson - Neither Here Nor There

10.00 Value

Thanks Jennifer!!

BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE HAT/SCARF!

$10.00 Value

Made by the loving hands of a 14 year old girl who I got to hug at the Ohio Convention and who has a real heart for orphans!!

Thanks Rachel!!

BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE HAT!

$10.00 Value

Made by the loving hands of a 14 year old girl who I got to hug at the Ohio Convention and who has a real heart for orphans!!

Thanks Rachel!!

BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE HAT!

$10.00 Value

Thanks Rachel!!

BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE HAT!

$10.00 Value

Thanks Rachel!!

BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE HAT!

$10.00 Value

Thanks Rachel!!

BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE HAT!

$10.00 Value

Thanks Rachel!!

A HAND KNIT pair of hand warmers!

$10.00 Value! - In reality - PRICELESS!

Thanks Hannah!!

THIS ENDS MAY 31!!

DONATE HERE!!

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Donations Still Being Accepted!

The world according to Aaron..

"Mama, this is how big boys lay on the couch."

Yes. He totally cracks me up.

---------------------------

PLEASE!! Pray for his country.

Things are going from bad to worse. My heart is breaking!!

Please Please Pray!!

---------------------------------------

THANK YOU THANK YOU to those who have donated prizes... we have some really cool stuff that has been donated!! I'm still accepting prizes for our giveaway.... the more the merrier!! We have a LOT of money to raise!

covenantb@yahoo.com

ALSO.... THANK YOU THANK YOU to those who have already started giving!! Wow!! What an encouragement it is to see the donations starting before the Giveaway has even begun!!

You can GIVE HERE if you don't want to wait for the Giveaway!

Pray. Pray for Ukra*ne. Pray for the camp which is located in the same region that has just broken out in fighting. Pray for the ministry team as they move forward in the midst of a country in crisis. Pray that this open door will remain open so that they can minister to the hearts of hundreds and hundreds of orphans this summer!!

Pray too for all the families in process right now over there. Some are in the same regions where things are hot. Pray God's protection and peace on each one of them as they work to get their babes out.

THANK YOU!

Friday, May 2, 2014

Feeding 400 Orphans

It is a country in crisis.

They had a revolution that stirred the masses to protest against their corrupt leaders.

100 died who stood for their freedom.

They gained a new government. They were ready to go in a new direction.

It looked hopeful. A new day dawning for a country tired of living under oppression.

We stood by and cheered as they waved their flags of freedom.

But it was short-lived.

It is now a country on the brink of disaster as their bigger and stronger neighbor stands posed to swallow them up. They have already lost one region. More may soon fall.

It is a country in crisis.

The economy has tanked.

The military presence of their neighbor now walks some of their streets.

So many questions. So many worries.

Yet in the midst of the chaos and worry and confusion. A ministry team continues to do what they have been doing for years and years.

Caring for the orphans. Caring for the orphans.

Weekend after weekend while we take our children to their soccer games and baseball practices. Weekend after weekend while we go on picnics and take trips to the park. Weekend after weekend while we live our lives centered around our families and our friends.

Each weekend while we do our thing... they are loading up their van with supplies, balls, games.

They are squeezing in as many workers as they can find.

They are traveling one, two three, four hours.

Any time the doors open... they are there.

From orphanage to internat to institute.

Loving. Caring. Holding. Teaching. Singing. Playing.

Wherever the door is open.

They go.

And in the summertime.

When we are planning our vacations. Our getaways. They are bringing those same orphans to camp.

A camp they have to build. After they spend months and months finding a piece of property and gaining permits and going from this agency to that agency to get permission. A camp that sometimes is devastated by storms. A camp where the government refuses to grant them swimming rights even when they are situated on the Black Sea. A camp where children come with nothing but the clothes on their back. A camp where they get to pour into each child. Sing with them. Play with them. Teach them about Jesus. Teach them about love.

This year they began the process of getting permits. Hoping to give around 300 children the experience of camp. Gearing up for the permit battles. The property issues. Worrying over buildings and supplies. Volunteers. Money. Always money worries.

Their country is in crisis but it is not keeping them from their single-minded goal of caring for the orphans.

In the midst of their planning. And in the midst of their country in crisis. In the midst of it all.... God opened a door for them.

A shockingly wide door.

Would you. Could you. Take them all?

Would you take 600+ children from the nearby villages and small towns and let them come to your camp? 600 orphans? We have run out of money. We can barely afford to feed the children. Clothe them. Would YOU take them?

Please?

Take them to a camp where they will learn about Jesus. Take them to a camp where each and every volunteer is there because they LOVE ORPHANS and CARE ABOUT THEM. Take them to a camp that is designed to meet the physical and spiritual and emotional needs of everyone who comes.

Four camps.

600 children.

They will get do crafts and go swimming. They will play games - tons of games. They will sing. They will listen to stories and learn about Jesus. They will sit and roast marshmallows around a fire. They will be loved. Hugs will be in abundant supply.

600 children.

Four camps.

One camp for teenage boys.

One camp for older teens.

One camp for children who come from regular internats and orphanages.

And get this....

Read this my friends...

One camp for children who are living in low level special needs orphanages!!!!

DID YOU READ THAT??

I don't know if there will be Reece's Rainbow children at those camps. Chances are a number of them who are in that area will be able to go. I don't know which institutes and I doubt any of my Lost Boys will be there.

I do know that hundreds of special needs babes are going to be free of the walls that contain them. They will get to run free in fields. Roast marshmallows. Sing songs. Learn about the God who loves them best of all!

600 children.

Each child costs $60.00.

So far 200 children have been sponsored.

400 are left.

Do the math.

400 children = $24,000.00

I'm doing a Mulligan Stew.

Back during the Depression - people would share what they had and put it in a common pot so that many would be fed. It was called a Mulligan Stew.

This Mulligan Stew is going to feed 400 children so that they can go to camp this summer.

Right now I'm gathering items to Giveaway during our Mulligan Stew.

If you have anything you want to donate - please e-mail me at covenantb@yahoo.com.

If you want to learn more about the camp CLICK HERE.

If you don't care about winning anything and want to just go ahead and help get 400 children to camp - Then just go ahead and CLICK HERE!!

We have a lot of money to raise.

This ministry is the SAME TEAM who goes whenever the door is open to love on our Lost Boys. They are the same team that I had the privilege of hanging with in December when I was there. They are deeply in love with the Lord and are deeply concerned about the orphan crisis in their country. Agreeing to accept twice as many children for their camp this year with the economy tanking and prices increasing by the day has been a huge leap of faith. I stand up and applaud what they are doing. They are truly being the Hands and Feet of Christ.

The Mulligan Stew is coming soon.

400 orphans.

Only God!

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Coming Soon...

It's Wednesday already! How did that happen? Last thing I remember I was selling BiblioPlan at the Convention. Saturday night we left and headed for a hotel a few hours from Cincinnati. We dropped our stuff off at the hotel and headed for the nearest restaurant. I was starved. Exhausted. The kind of exhausted where all I wanted to do was stuff my starving face with food and then crawl on the floor under the booth and go to sleep. As we sat in the restaurant - the exhaustion increased. As did a nasty sore throat that made it miserable to talk. By the end of our meal I was handing over my keys to my helper. I was done. I have no memory of how we got back to the room. I have no memory of crawling into bed. I have a VIVID memory of waking up at 2:00 am with a raging fever. Miserable doesn't cut how I felt. Sick and exhausted and far from home. Thankfully I had a wonderful helper who packed us up and got us home safe and sound. By Sunday night I no longer had a fever which was a blessing because I teach on Mondays and I didn't have a substitute for my classes. I love to teach. I love my students. They are my guinea pigs for all of the curriculum we have written. If it weren't for them we would not be writing 24/7!

I love my students because they are so much fun to teach that they take my mind off how weary I am.

I love my students because they don't mind if I look like I just got washed up on the shore.

It's Wednesday and I am just now starting to come out of the exhaustion fog.

I NEED to come out of the exhaustion fog.

I need to get my act together because there are HUNDREDS of orphans who are going to have a FANTASTIC summer and WE are going to help.

This is a story you don't want to miss.

This is a story that is COMING SOON.....

It is crazy and TOTALLY DIFFERENT than anything I have done before.

This is a story that requires a BIG STEW POT.

Yep. I'm getting out my pots and pans.

At the worst possible time for me.

I was NOT planning on doing a Mulligan this year. I have told all of you who have e-mailed and asked over and over again that I just do not have the time/energy to do a Mulligan this year. NOT THIS YEAR.

Which is how I know it is the BEST time. Because it is never about me and all about God and His love for orphans.

And for this Stew... this time... Dear Friends...

HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF ORPHANS ARE GOING TO BE FED.

So stay tuned.

And if you have something to offer.... BIG or little... please e-mail me a picture and description - covenantb@yahoo.com.

We have a lot of mouths to feed!

Friday, April 25, 2014

My Favorite Part

I'm here in Ohio at the Great Homeschool Convention

My favorite favorite favorite part of Homeschooling conventions is having Reece's Rainbow families visit me in my booth.

Loving on three RR babes absolutely made my night last night.

These are the Allison babes...Lillie and Jocelyn just came home weeks ago and Eli (glasses) came home 2 years ago. Their adoring brother and sisters are some of the sweetest kids around! I love this family. They came to the convention just to see me and that was such a sweet blessing.

And the added blessing...

My internet was NOT working on the convention floor and I was in pieces. The IT guy came over and tried to get it going but he was at a loss. When you are in sales - internet is kind of important. Jamie and Jared showed up with the kids while the IT guy was trying to fix my problem. His solution was for me to buy internet from the convention center at the tune of 100+ dollars a day! No thank you! So in the midst of loving on the babes I was in a mental turmoil over what I was going to do about internet. Well... when I mentioned it to Jamie she let me know that her dear husband just happened to do that kind of stuff for a living.... Can I tell you that he was my night in shining armor last night?? He worked on my devices and my internet came on. It was slow and intermittent but I will take slow and intermittent any day over nothing.

So I was doubly blessed!

We have an 11 hour day today and a 9 hour day tomorrow.

My poor feet....

But even so...

It's Fatherless Friday and this little guy is seriously fatherless..

This sweet little boy needs to be seen.

If you see him in this picture you think.... sweet... cute... time....