End It Movement

Did you know that slavery still exists, today, in 2014?    Human trafficking and slavery TODAY.  Men, women and children, enslaved for the perverse pleasures of the highest bidder, or the guy with $25.  98% of the people sold into slavery are women and children.

DID YOU KNOW?

As many as 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States annually?

Atlanta. Georgia is a major hub of human trafficking and ranked among the top 14 cities in the United States for the highest incidence of children used in prostitution.

An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year.

EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY DAY, two (2) children, who should be playing and learning and enjoying life are sold into slavery? Children….yours, mine, theirs, ours…sold into hell on earth.

Want to get involved?  Want to help END IT? Get involved, get educated, get busy helping those who can’t help themselves.

Here are just a few ways you can be part of the solution.

Wellspring International

End It Movement

Polaris Project

International Justice Mission 

Low on Mercy–Still of Use

If you have been around church long, you’ve most likely taken a Spiritual Gifts Test at some point.  Truthfully, most of us already know what our gifting's are, these tests are more for the benefit of the church to know what area of ministry you are most suited to in their program of choice.

Not surprisingly, I always score very low on mercy and compassion.  Shocking I know.  Interestingly enough, my three closest friends all score low in that area as well.  Seriously, if there were negative numbers in that category the four of us would all be in the negative. 

Now, before all of you emotional people label us as uncaring and cold, let me just clear this up for you, because really you couldn’t be further from the truth.  We care deeply.  We care about what choices landed you in the situation you’re in, what steps can be taken to get you out of that situation and what can be done to ensure that the process doesn’t get repeated.    We care enough to walk into hell armed with only a water pistol to bring you out.  We care about seeing a life changed by God.  Whether it feels good or bad isn’t of any real concern.   We care too much to leave people in the hole they’re in.

Interestingly enough, one of these three low mercy gals asked me this questions recently about my trip to Ethiopia.

“Why on earth did YOU go on a missions trip?  We have very similar personalities and I know that the last place on earth I’d want to be is on the mission field."

Now, she didn’t mean that she didn’t care about those people and their plight.  She meant that there was no way in heck she was going to go sit and cry with, and about,  these folks, (like she see’s most missions folks do) and she knew it wasn’t likely that I did either.

The reason I was asked to go on this trip, and the reason I went was BECAUSE of my personality, not in spite of it.  We were going into people’s homes, peoples lives.  There was a need for someone who could go in, see the situation for what it was without gasping in horror “OH MY GAWD”…because sometimes that would have been the emotional persons first response, and rightly so.  There was a need for someone who could look at the facts, determine a course of action and if necessary look at the emotional leader of the group and say “Get a grip girl.”

There was a need for someone who would GO, even when they didn’t FEEL like it. 

Did I cry on this trip?  No.   Did I seethe with rage at the injustice and inhumanity of it?  Yes.  Am I involved in ways to make a difference now that I’m home?  Yes.

The Apostle Paul wasn’t a warm and fuzzy kind of guy, but he was effective in what he was called to do.    Love isn’t an emotion.  It’s a choice.   There are those of us, who choose to love…whether we “feel like it” or not.   We have a place, and a calling…and we just might not fit the mold, and I’m ok with that.

Ethiopia Bound

In recent months I’ve shared information with you about Project Hopeful Awassa and the great need for, Families In the Gap (FIG) workers and of course medical and financial needs for the region.

Awassa

Project Hopeful Awassa currently has a team in Ethiopia  sharing the gospel of Jesus while delivering several hundred pounds of shoes, purchasing cows and goats and building a playground for the beautiful orphaned children in Ajuuja.

Things are happening fast in Awassa.  God is opening doors, meeting needs and creating amazing opportunities where there seems to be only despair.   Equally as fast, this past week I was asked to go to Awassa in July…yes, July as in not quite 2 and a half months away.

This trip will serve a dual purpose (or more).  First, it will serve as a vision casting mission for the church plant that we’re working with here locally.   While there we will specifically be praying for God’s wisdom and direction on what the ministry’s next step will be in this region, and then we’ll bring that vision back to our church plant and get those folks involved.  We will also be spending time loving on the children and workers at Ajuuja, working on  labor intensive projects at the orphanage, buying and delivering cows and goats to local families and checking on our FIG families in the region. 

Because this opportunity has presented itself, with such a tight timeframe, there is LOTS to be done in a short amount of time.  My updated passport is on the way.  I’m attempting to find child care for my own girls while I’m gone, and of course there are finances needed for the trip.

If you would like to make a TAX DEDUCTIBLE donation to help me get to Ethiopia (and back home, home is good) you can either click on the donate button in the upper right hand corner of my blog, or you can click here.   If you would like to donate by check, please email me and we’ll make arrangements for that.   If you are unable to financially support me on this trip, don’t feel as though you can’t be a part of what’s happening, you can be in prayer for us, and that will be GREATLY appreciated!

Reaching the World From Your Home

Why Project HOPEFUL Awassa?

In working with Project HOPEFUL’s FIG (Family in the Gap) program we have a sponsorship style program that provides the following for sponsored children- some of which live at Ajuuja while others live alone or with family in the community near Ajuuja:

• clothing and shoes two times a year
• medical checkup twice a year and medication in the case of sickness
• basic hygiene materials three times a year
• food support (formula/milk for children in the center and wheat for children in the community)
• all the necessary school supplies twice a year with school uniform and back bag once a year
• annual recreational trip around Awassa
• annual get together at Ajuuja Center
• sporting goods like balls, soccer shoe and jerseys
• regular prayer with men of God invited from different churches at Awassa
• Christmas and Easter celebrations with staff at Ajuuja and invited guests from the community

We are thankful for the work that Project HOPEFUL does and consider it a privilege to join the effort. We know that God loves the Awassa children more than we can even comprehend and pray that our efforts will bring glory to His name as we heed His call to bring help to widows and orphans.

In your role as FIG advocate you agree to:

• commit to praying regularly for “your” child or family
• financially support for $30 per month

There are many other ways to support our Awassa Initiative:

• You can give one time donations to our general fund to help fund special needs and things that sponsorship may not cover.
• You can be a monthly giver of any amount to help fund projects and children who do not have a FIG yet. Every single dollar helps.
• A goat or sheep can be provided for a family to provide meat or income from their offspring for $45 each.

We will also have income generating projects and skill training to help people achieve independence. You could help a family start their own business (tailored to what that family could realistically do in their area and ability.) Contact us if you  or your business would like to be a business backer for a family in the community.

Here are a few of the children that YOU could make part of your family!

 

(if the slide show doesn’t show up head over to this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/105253626628862918579/ChildrenNeedingFigs?authuser=0&feat=directlink)

To contact us with questions or to set up a FIG sponsorship email us   charisa@projecthopeful.org

You can also join us at facebook at and see live updates and pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/ProjectHOPEFULAwassa/

To donate go here: http://www.projecthopeful.org/donate?view=donation

Make sure to select FIG Awassa Ethiopia Initiative in the campaign box!

Thank you for your love of the orphan!

Greg and Charisa Knight

www.forsuchasthese.blogspot.com

My Little Evangelist

If you follow my homeschool blog, Learning Curve, you already know that we just finished up this year’s production of the ballet Nutcracker.   I’ve had some “churchy” people comment on the amount of time that’s gone into the show.   So let me share a little something with you from backstage.

Sometime backstage on Saturday night God came up in conversation among the younger dancers.  One of the little girls named Kia announced that she didn’t believe in God.   Lindsey was floored to think that someone wouldn’t believe in God…but she knew what to do.

“Mom, I told her I HAVE TO SHARE A SCRIPTURE WITH YOU…..and then I told her all of John 3:16, that God loved her and sent Jesus to die for HER.”

“Mom, she said she still didn’t believe there was a God.  So I told her more scriptures about God, and Jesus and how much God loves her.”

The little girl was still not convinced that there was a God.   Finally, in desperation Lindsey said to her “But Kia, if you don’t believe in God, and you don’t ask Jesus into your heart……then you’ll go to hell when you die.”

Kia was silent, and then said “Nobody every told me that before.”  Lindsey, my 7 year old Snowflake Ballerina who missed church on Sunday, then went on to share with this little girl how to receive the free gift of salvation.

What did YOU do to expand God’s family this week, oh churchy one?

Meet Eyerusalem. 

Her parents were injured when Eyerusalem was just 18 months old.

Somehow her father's motorcycle fuel tank caught fire and quickly spread in to the home igniting a kerosene can and sparked an explosion that burned her father badly and crippled her mother. He has recovered and is back to work but has scars and some enduring problems.

She was bedridden for a year and is now confined to this chair. 

A mother despite her circumstances that is filled with such joy.

We need to raise funds asap for her. 
We have the funds for the beginning already in Ethiopia but the hospital needed us to sign a contract that we would cover the funds for the whole amount before they would begin. We told our friends in Ethiopia to go ahead and sign that contract IN FAITH that the funds will come for this sweet momma.
And now we need your help!
The cost of the surgery with the doctor, medicine and hospital is to be around $1,900.
The gift of her being to walk again and fully take care of her daughter is PRICELESS.
We have sent scriptures from you to Emebet and Zewdu went to share them with her and to offer encouragement and prayer.

Zewdu shared this:
I have told all the messages and encouragements by each name and she was crying as I telling about your commitment. Her daughter, Eyerusalem was also at home and enjoyed our visit. One word Emebet said at last is that" I thank my God for giving you around here and abroad to support me. If God doesn't brought you all in my life, I would be history leaving my child for hardship in life much worse than mine. Your visit, words of encouragement and prayers have a meaning for my existence and please keep doing it day and night. By all these I am seeing my God helping me and has a bright future for me to raise my beloved child, Eyerusalem to live a life better than mine. God Bless You all for helping us and keep in touch with me.


Would you like to help us bless this family?
All funds received will go straight to her care and surgery.
(paypal button below..if you’d like to make a donation by check message me at awassaph@gmail.com )
Your tax deductible donation will go straight to her medical needs. 
If you would like to comment (or email them to me awassaph@gmail.com)  with encouraging words and prayers for her—we will make sure that she gets them.
Thank you!!

To learn more, and get further updates visit For Such As These.

WorshipFest 2011

This past weekend we were privileged to be part of WorshipFest 2011.  This was an awesome day of praise, worship and the Word set in a beautiful outdoor setting.  The temperatures dropped and it was VERY chilly, but well worth bundling up for.

Lindsey and Thomas both sang at the event.  It was Lindsey’s first time singing in front of a crowd (with the exception of being in our small church).  She picked her own songs, so she did “The Revelation Song”, and then two short songs that she’s learned at church and in her sign language class.   I was super proud of her!   I so love to see my children praising God out of pure hearts!!

Thomas sang as well.  He used to sing in our previous church praise team, and in various churches.  But in recent years his second shift work has kept him from being able to attend the mandatory midweek praise team practice, so he hasn’t been allowed to use his singing gift.  So we were super excited for him to again get to use his voice in ministry to the glory of God.

We are so excited to see the doors that God is opening for us as He allows us to be a part of what He’s doing in these last days!