Giggles, Games and Goodies

On an evening in May, we invited some 350 people to have dinner, games and lots of fun with us.
First Carole Batten and her hard working team moved tables and chairs until there was space for one and all.  Of course Carole wanted everything to look pretty so out came colorful table cloths and paper flower centerpieces.

Then Ellen Mandell and her cafeteria wizards cooked barbecue chicken and pork and hamburgers and hot dogs with fixings and sides too numerous to count.  They fed us all and fed us well.

While the meal was going on, the Main Worship Center was being made over into
a place filled with four inflatables from Noah's Place and 21 carnival games.

Bouncy inflatables were not enough so we lined two walls with some of the wackiest
games we could think up.  The one below is called the "Toilet Toss".  Can I say
toilet paper was tossed all over the place!


Now games, prizes and bouncy things are grand and lots of fun but when you add

CLOWNS that is absolutely over the top!  See "Circus Daze" below.



The evening was more fun than any of us imagined and more work than some had
considered but without a doubt as the giant room filled up with incredibly well-mannered
children of every shape and size, all ready for fun and bubbling over with laughter
and excitement, we were blessed and honored to share the evening together.

Guess what I learned....among other things,  you know when you want to take
pictures of kids and they turn their faces and ruin the picture?  Well for privacy
sake, I tried to take pictures of kids without showing their faces!  You know what?
Most of my pictures cannot be shown because some little darlin' was looking
toward the camera but take a quick look of some pictures that I can share with you.

There was some spectacular face painting and some pretty cool balloon animals.

And there were some silly games with giant flamingos,

fishing poles with prizes to catch, duck ponds,

and every kind of ball or bean bag to toss that you can imagine. 





All in all it was one really fun event that the Lord allowed us to

share with each other and with some incredible kids and

their families.  I wish you could have heard the laughter, seen the smiles, and

enjoyed seeing hundreds of kids overflowing with fun.

May the Lord bless each of you who made this special evening possible.



Back to Africa!

As of today, First Christian Church has a team going to Ethiopia

this summer with Brighton Their World. 
Let me introduce you to the team:

 

 

This is Regina Gause.  She has blessed more teenagers at

First Christian than we can even count!

Now she will bless the young ones in Ethiopia.

Regina - welcome to the team!

 

 

This is Robert Miles, a man who most often has a camera

around his neck or in his hands.  His photography talents will

be enormous blessings to the children he meets.

Robert - welcome to the team!

 

 

This is Beth Lilley on the right with her friend Jeanne Baker.

Beth is loved by everyone she meets especially at both

High Point and Kernersville First Christian campuses.

Her gentle, loving spirit mixed with a bit of wackiness will

be a blessing to the Ethiopian children and the team.

Beth - welcome to the team!

 

THE NEXT QUESTION IS...

HOW CAN EACH OF US HELP THE TEAM?

 

Starting Sunday, February 24 the Orphan Care Ministry will

be selling handmade bracelets, many of which feature acacia

beads or wrapped paper beads made by the women of

Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda.  Bracelets are only $10 each

with every single penny going to help Beth, Regina and Robert

fund their trip.  

 

To purchase a bracelet see Laura Vera in High Point or visit

the Orphan Care Ministry bracelet table in Kernersville.

Bracelets also available from sandra.ward@earthlink.net

Both campuses will have bracelets available THIS Sunday.

 

 

Another suggestion....you can make a donation to their trip

by sending a check to Brighton Their World, PO Box 1975,

Powder Springs, GA 30127.  Please mark the check

"Ethiopia mission trip"

Donations are tax deductable.

 

Questions?  Respond to this blog

or email orphancarefccm@earthlink.net

 

 

Thank you Beth, Regina and Robert for answering the

call of James 1:27 and going in our place.

 

Thanks to each and every person who supports the team in

in prayer and financially.  Some go....some send.

If we are not going, let's join together to send them.

 

Bracelet anyone?



 

 



 



Diana Fields goes to Africa!

Another member of the First Christian Church family has answered the
call to care for orphans.  This time Diana Fields from the High Point campus
and her sister are two members of a Visiting Orphans team who are headed
to Uganda and Kenya later this month.

 

Diana and husband, Chad.

 

Visiting Orphans describes Diana's trip:
"This team will start off their journey by heading to Nakuru, Kenya to serve and
stay at Fiwagoh Mission Orphanage. Fiwagoh is located right near beautfiul Lake
Elmenteita and home to around 180 amazing children. Also, during the team's
time in Kenya they will be serving at the Visoi Children's Home located in the
rural countryside of Kenya, Grace Children's Center which is full of excited and
loving boys, and Haven of Hope, a home for toddlers, babies, and young children
 who have been abandoned.

 

After their time in Kenya the team will fly to Uganda for the second half of this life
changing trip. The team will first head to Kampala to spend a day with Pastor Samuel
and the children of Return Ministries where they provide lunch for the wonderful
children of Return, along with Bible lessons and fun and games. The team will then
travel to beautiful Jinja, Uganda. During the teams time in Jinja they will be staying
at Canaan Children's Home among the amazing children and staff of Canaan. Before
heading home the team will have one last day to serve with Home Again Ministries
by visiting the villages of the wonderful women and children of the Karamajong Tribe.
This trip is going to be full of amazing children and ministries that God's hand is clearly on."

Diana has joined forces with the FCCM Orphan Care Ministry and Brighton Their
World to be what is called a "mule".  A mule is one who carries formula and blankets
to orphanages in third world countries for Brighton Their World. 

Special thanks to the Women's Impact Class for their continuing support
for the work of Brighton Their World.  Their donations provided a 50 lb
bag filled to the top with powdered baby formula.  Many tightly packed
bags have been given to orphanages around the world thanks to caring
groups like the Women's Impact Class.  Thank you, ladies, for the work
you do.  Thanks also to Judy Chance for sending her handmade blankets.

The Orphan Care Ministry seeks your prayers for Diana as she travels.
Pray that her heart will be open to the leading of the Father as she loves
on orphans so far away.  Please pray for their entire team.  Pray for safety,
for good health, for wisdom and for guidance by the Holy Spirit.  Pray
for Diana's husband and children while she is so far away.

Ever thought about a mission trip?  The Orphan Care Ministry is working
on upcoming plans for a 2013 trip to Ethiopia.  Ask the Lord if He wants
YOU to go!



Feeding NJ babies!

First Christian Church had an opportunity to send a truck to New Jersey

filled with supplies for victims of Hurricane Sandy.  Many items were

requested from coats to cleaning supplies but the item that shouted loudest

to me was the need for baby formula.

The Orphan Care Ministry and the Single Sisters and Friends seem to

have a built in, deep love for children in need whether they are orphans

or hurricane victims.  An email was sent out asking for donations to

purchase formula and within 24 hours we were promised over $700!

                              Donations could not be taken to FCCM until Sunday, November 11
                                               and all that formula had to go somewhere.

                                             
                                           Richard and Carole Batten came to the rescue. 



                 Once purchased, boxes of formula were delivered to their home and stacked
                  on their kitchen table.  Not sure where they ate for 3 days but their table was
                 piled high with formula!  On Sunday morning, Rick loaded up the Batten vehicles
                     and transported all the formula to FCCM to be placed into the donation truck.

Thanks to each and everyone of you whether you donated $5 or $100.

Individually we might not make much of a difference but when the

children of the Father pool our efforts WE CAN FEED BABIES!

 

Special thanks to Rick and Carole Batten for being such a great

help to this project.

 

Thank you Orphan Care Ministry

and

Thank you Single Sisters and Friends!

 

 

In the words of an "orphan no more"

On October 20, 19 people attended the Orphan Care Ministry meeting to share
ideas, projects and plans for 2013. 

There were some new faces, some folks who had gone to Africa last summer,

and some folks from High Point and Kernersville.

 

 

       





Mostly we talked about ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus to orphans not only

far away but also in our own area.  We talked about providing opportunities for

new families to foster and adopt.  We talked our about Orphan Sunday which will

in 2013.

 

 

And one lady, Debbie Humbart (above) volunteered to head up the "Saving Change for

a Change" project in 2013.  She needs lots and lots of baby bottles - do you have

any you can donate?

 

We can talk about orphans all day long but if you will please watch the video

included in this blog post, you will hear the words of one little "orphan no more".

She says it best.  Please take time to watch it.  Thank you, Mebrate!



Kebebe Tshay Celebrates the New Year!

A few weeks ago I sent out a message from Brighton Their World regarding New Year's Day in Ethiopia.  Unlike here in the United States, the Ethiopian calendar is different from ours with their New Years in our September and their Christmas in our January.  As a matter of fact, their year is even different.  I believe it is 2005 in Ethiopia but since I could not even keep up with the time difference, it may be 2006.

So many of you responded that I want to share with you just a bit from that special day.  Over 600 children were fed a feast of a meal including meat for one and all, Muslims and Christians alike.  In this country it is nothing out of the ordinary to be a vegetarian but in the orphanages of Ethiopia, meat is a special treat.  Brighton Their World sent your donations and the donations of many others to Kebebe Tshay Orphanage where the meat was purchased.  It does not get much fresher than this!

Still on the hoof and moving down the road!

 

Meat in the kitchen caused some smiles that went from ear to ear.  I remember this kitchen and I will not forget their pride in it.  The cooks are so pleased to show their kitchen to visitors and they love having their pictures made.

 

Hey Martha Stewart - look what we are cooking!

 

If you are like me, I could not wait to see pictures of all those kids diving into this special meal.  Unfortunately, those pictures cannot be shown.  You see, there are certain rules and regulations about sharing pictures of children who may some day be adopted.  Brighton Their World did receive a few pictures with the children eating, listening to a band of singers and musicians from the orphanage and pictures of some dancing Ethiopian style.  Never wanting to jeopardize an adoption, none of those pictures can be put on a blog or shared among us.  Each and every nation that allows international adoptions has their own set of rules and while we might not understand the rules and while we would really like to see some of the 600 plus happy kids, we do want every child to be eligible for adoption.  So, there are no pictures of happy faces or full tummies.   There is this thank you from them.

 

May I take this moment to express my personal thanks for each of you who

contributed to this meal.  I understand we will have the opportunity to

provide a Christmas meal and perhaps an Easter meal, too.

Praising the Lord for His family of believers who remember the fatherless.





Baby Dolls to Africa

While in Ethiopia, my daughter and I were honored to be invited to the home of the Shannon family for a meal after worship service.  This Pennsylvania couple with their children had moved to Ethiopia and were in the process of establishing a day care for the mothers and children of Korah.  While the children were being cared for, the mothers could seek employment or spend their days at a job in order to make a living.  Their ministry was to be called Embracing Hope Ethiopia.

Fast forward about 6 months.  My daughter had once again traveled to Ethiopia and this time when she came home she brought their newest little daughter, Mebrate, with her.  Needless to say, I was right there in Atlanta with them to once again meet this precious little girl.  Mebrate and her big sister Meron were instant friends and sisters at heart.  Mebrate was amazed at all the toys Meron had for them to play with but her favorites were all the baby dolls.  For the first several days with her forever family, Mebrate was seldom seen without a baby doll in her arms.  She changed their clothes, fed them, strolled them, rocked them and loved on them.  At her young age of two and a half, I could see the culture of Ethiopia included a great love for babies and children.  My love for the people of that nation grew as I had another glimpse into their hearts.

Meron on the left sharing baby dolls with her
new little sister, Mebrate.

 

Once again fast forward about 6 or 8 months and the Orphan Care Ministry is working

long and hard to assist with the team from First Christian Church who will be going to

Rwanda and Ethiopia on a mission trip to serve orphans.  We did many things to help

but in the back of my mind and deep in my heart was the picture of Mebrate loving on

the baby dolls.  Also stored away in my mind was the picture of handmade dolls that

Michell Morris had shown me.  Dolls made for children who have no dolls and so an

idea and a project was born.



During a meeting with Robin Beck, she volunteered to design a pattern for dolls that we

could make and send to Africa.  She also designed and made doll clothes and provided

us with sample dolls to go by.

When Robin completed the sample baby dolls, I fell in love with the idea of making lots and lots and lots of dolls for little children who have few, if any, toys that are brand new and made just for them.  I sent out a call to the Orphan Care Ministry and to the Single Sisters and Friends asking them for fabric and asking them to cut out, sew and stuff dozens of little dolls.  Well baby dolls need clothes and they need blankets so if you know me at all, you know I do not mind asking if people want to help be the hands and feet of Jesus with their time and talents.   Of course we could not just send the dolls, we needed to make a tote bag for each baby, something that matched the doll outfit!   Robin Beck talked to her uncle Monroe Yow who donated enough fabric to make a tote bag for each doll but who would make the bags?  Carole Batten to the rescue!   She volunteered to take all that fabric home with her and make bags.  Sue Giachero pitched in to help and we had a project ready to roll.

We were sending dolls to the orphans of Africa but more than that, we wanted the children to know that Jesus loves them, that He died for them and He will return for them.  Michelle Morris came up with labels to be sewn on the dolls.  She and her friend designed and made the labels.

 

Pamella and Jodie Loy

cut out all the pieces for the

dolls and Sue Giachero and

her mother, Dorothy

Mantyla, positioned and

attached all the labels.

 

 

 

 

 

Jeanette Harmon not only came to the church to sew the dolls but she made lots and lots of little outfits for them.  She told me that as she sewed the little dresses, pants and tops, she thought back to the days of her own childhood when her grandmother taught her to sew doll clothes.  She did not want the little boys to be left out so she designed little pants that looked like they had fly fronts!

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Several ladies including Amanda Parker

brought their sewing machines from home

so we could work as a team.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amanda's daughter, Hannah, came to help with the baby doll project.  She did some stuffing but she also dressed each doll as it was finished. 

So many ladies made doll clothes that I cannot begin to name them all but just look at their creations!  They put their hearts and hands to work to bless little children far, far away.



 



 

 

Some of us sewed on machines while some of us stuffed the little brown bodies

and others attached curly black hair complete with colorful hair bows.

 

 

All those babies just did not look complete without faces.

Deanie Simmons, Faye Terray and Faye's granddaughter

took basket after basket of dolls and look what they did...

 

They gave every doll bright eyes, a cute nose

and a happy little mouth!



 



 

Finally the babies were complete but following our final doll-making workday and also following a Wednesday worship service, we circled around the babies, holding many on our laps, and we asked the Lord to bless the efforts of our hands.  We asked Him to provide the perfect place for the mission team to deliver all these babies.  We asked Him to fill each little doll with the love that can only come from Him so that as each baby is held by a precious child in Africa, that little child would experience the love of the Savior.   Oh, we prayed and prayed and prayed some more.

 





And now the rest of the story...

 



Remember how I met the Shannons in Ethiopia?  Well it was not long until we had a message from Jerry Shannon saying Embracing Hope Ethiopia would love to have every single doll we had made!  And so the team from First Christian Church met the Shannons in Addis Ababa, giving them all the babies. Little ones so far away from Kernersville, NC but so loved by our Orphan Care Ministry and the Single Sisters and Friends would now have a baby all their own.  May the Lord continue to bless the receivers of the dolls and Embracing Hope Ethiopia.

 

 

 

Thanks to each and every person who helped with this project in any way.  Many helped who did not have their picture made but we could not have done it without each of you.

 

Thank you all!