Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night and Silent Auction

On April 17th, we had one of our fundraisers at Chick-Fil-A on Falls of Neuse, http://www.cfarestaurant.com/fallsvillage/home. For this fundraiser we sent out invitations to all of our local family and friends.  They were able to enjoy an evening out with no cooking and support a great cause by dining in or going through the drive thru.  A percentage of the food sales that night went to our Mission Team.  The owners, Chris and Karen Latta, were also gracious enough to let us sale our T-shirts, bracelets and have a silent auction of many wonderful items during our spirit night.



It was a wonderful night of dinner and telling people about our mission trip.  We have been so blessed with all of the support that we have received while fundraising and planning for our trip.  Thank you all so much! We really appreciate it!!



Written by: Kiesha Hall

Raleigh Facebook Silent Auction

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

This verse has certainly been proven over and over to our team. God has certainly done exceedingly and abundantly more than we could have ever imagined! The generosity of people that donated items for our auction at Chick-Fil-A was so overwhelming, there was no physical way we could have displayed it all. The Texas team members had done an online auction via Facebook, so we took our cue from them and used all the extra items we were unable to have at our Chick-Fil-A night for a silent auction on Facebook as well.

We had about 25 items up for auction with items varying from various gift cards to football tickets to original artwork.  Every penny went straight to benefit our mission trip.

The Raleigh team gathered together at Cindy's home and spent the afternoon taking pictures and uploading each item to our Facebook event. It was so exciting as the evening went on to see all the bids people were posting!  It was a great way to allow people to be involved in our mission trip that might not have been able to otherwise.

Through each fundraising event we have been able to do, God just blows me away. I like to think He is smiling up there and laughing saying "Courtney, why do you think I would call you to this and then not provide for you. Trust me!" I am daily in awe of all He has provided our team, and I am thankful for all the friends and family that He has used to do so.

Written by: Courtney Rowe

Ethiopian dinner with friends

Our team is very blessed to know an Ethiopian family in Raleigh. When the mother heard about our trip, she graciously invited us for a traditional Ethiopian meal in her home and it was delightful!!!

I have never been a part of a dining experience that was more interpersonal and inviting. Besides being treated with the greatest level of hospitality and service, the form of eating Ethiopian style can make for great dinner table, or might I say, "dinner basket" conversation.



Eating this way is community at its best! Everyone eats from one plate and uses only the best utensil we have, our hands!



Oh, and the taste! Lets talk about the taste! The food was prepared with only the freshest meat available bought from a local market. Collards, lentils, eggs, beef, pork. All prepared with traditional spices and the tastiest sauces.

After dinner, we waited for the Traditional Ethiopian coffee bean roast, promised by our hostess. This is my personal favorite of all the traditions I have heard of. Beans roasted right in front of you, made into warm delicious coffee. It is served the traditional way with a handful of popcorn to go along with it!




We sat and drank our coffee and asked many questions about the country we would be traveling to. In return, we were blessed with so much more than just answers, but with childhood memories, customs and traditions you can't research online, and a beautiful picture of what we might expect to see when we ourselves go to love on their people.

This was a rare and awesome opportunity that our team was given and I thank God for it. Being able to come together and break bread with Kiddis in her home, I think, prepared our hearts for this mission more than we could have imagined.


Written by: Shannon Mathis

A Wing and a Prayer: Friends Helping Friends

One of the best parts about being on this mission team is the outpouring of support from friends and family we've received. It seems that everyone we've shared with about our trip to Ethiopia wanted to know how they could get involved. One great example of this type of support is Stuart (Stu) Shearin and his company, "A Wing and a Prayer," located in eastern North Carolina. Stu makes gorgeous, hand-crafted, made-to-order bird houses and bird feeders.  

Stu gave us a bird house for our silent auction held during the Falls Village Chick-fil-A Spirit Night in Raleigh. It was a huge hit and received many bids. We thanked Stu for his thoughtfulness in donating the birdhouse, and his generosity did not stop there; he shared with us another awesome fundraising idea. "A Wing and a Prayer" donated two more beautiful birdhouses, the Chateau House, which retails at $260, and theCarolina Bluebird House, which retails at $99. He gave us the idea to sell raffle tickets for $5 each for the birdhouses. We drew two winners, a runner-up and the grand prize winner.

Because of the generosity of "A Wing and a Prayer" and because of the great fundraising idea from Stu, our bird house raffle raised around $1,200. It was amazing to see God's hand in this fundraising project and how receptive our friends and family were to it. The two lucky winners were thrilled with their birdhouses, and our team was equally as thrilled with the results of the fundraiser. What a blessing!

Written by: Suzanne Ward

Team Prayer Calendar

We hope many of you will use our team prayer calendar as a way to pray for specific needs for our trip. Prayer is a vital part of any mission trip and we hope you will pray with us as we seek to love His children.

August

2014

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
					1	2
					Pray that God would be preparing the hearts of each team member for the work He intends to accomplish in and through them.	Pray for the team leader, Cindy, that she would lead with wisdom and integrity and be granted discernment in all circumstances. Prov 2:7
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Pray for the team that they would be reminded that God will not leave them until all the work for the Lord is finished. 1 Chron 28:20	Pray that the team members would be surrendered fully to the Holy Spirit and therefore overflowing with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and self control.   Gal 5:22	Pray that the team members would not worry over their weaknesses but be reminded that God’s power is made perfect. 2 Cor 12:9-10	Pray for the team members that they would put on the whole armor of God. Eph 6:10-18	Pray for the team members, that each day they would be concerned with making His name known and not distracted by their own needs, desires, or fears. John 3:30	Pray for the team members as Satan tries to tempt, distract, and discourage them that their faith would not fail. Luke 22:31-32	Pray that the team members would rely heavily on God and that He would lead their every action for His glory, not their own.
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Pray that the team members would not be consumed by the hardship they will witness but instead take hope in God’s compassion and salvation.	Pray that Berhanu and Emily Mekonen, the couple running the guest house, will be encouraged by the team members and their service.	Pray for the city of Addis Ababa.  Pray that the light and truth of Jesus Christ would bring natives out of the darkness of Islam. John 8:12	Pray that God would remove fear and remind team members that He will strengthen and uphold them. Is 41:10	Pray for safe travel to Washington DC for the Texas team members.  Pray for connections to be made and luggage to arrive for all team members.	Pray for safe travel to Ethiopia for all team members.  Pray for endurance and peace during the long flight.	Pray for the team who will be tired and jet lagged upon arrival, pray that God would strengthen their bodies and spirits. Matt 26:41
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
Pray for the team as we worship at a local church.	Pray for the team members’ ability to communicate clearly. Pray that God would remind the team that He is able to cross all language barriers!	Pray that as we work to meet the children’s needs that they will look to God as the one who provides.	Pray for the children that we will meet. Pray they feel the love of Jesus through our time together.	Pray that the team would be diligent in sharing Jesus with the children knowing their need for salvation is the most important need we could help meet.	Pray that the team would be able to share words of encouragement and give acts of service to the caregivers.	Pray that as team members are weary and heavy laden they would find rest and comfort in God’s Word and His love! Matt 11:28
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Pray for the team as they travel home. It is a long flight with several connections.	Pray for the team as we navigate how to process what we have experienced and how to share our trip with others.	Thank God, along with the team members, that He who is mighty has done great things on the trip to Ethiopia! Luke 1:46-50
31

Pray

James 5:16- The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Help Us Meet the Needs

$45= 1 mattress for a child

Tonight, when we lay our heads down on a pillow in our comfortable beds, ready to  drift off to sleep and dream of the possibilities of tomorrow, we should all know how blessed we truly are for many reasons. There is an orphanage in Ethiopia, just a few thousand miles away, where young girls are without any bed to call their own. If they are lucky, they will sharing a foam pad, and more than likely, they will be sleeping on the cold floor. Many will not have blankets to cover with and will huddle together for warmth.

Our mission team that is traveling to Ethiopia in just a few short weeks has the privilege to make a difference. We will be working alongside many orphanages as we go to do the work God has called us to do. In particular, our goal is to meet the physical needs of the 350 girls at this orphanage to give them a space of their own and provide each girl with their own mattress.   Everyone deserves to have their own personal space, no matter how small, and we thought by getting each girl a mattress, at least it is somewhere they can retreat to and call their own.

We have raised enough money for 225 mattresses for this orphanage, but we are short for the last 125. Can you help? Each mattress costs approximately $45. This amount will probably not make a huge impact on many of our monthly budgets, but it will most certainly make a difference in the life of a child in this orphanage. Please prayerfully consider partnering with us to meet this important goal.

We must raise $5,700 by August 10. 

If you are interested in helping, you can make an online donation at http://www.awaa.org/ACT/donate.aspx and click the “Donate” button. In the “Notes” section of the form, please write “August Ethiopia 2014- Cindy Douglass- Mattress Project.” 

 Our team wants more than anything to love the Ethiopian people and to tell them in spite of their circumstances, that above all else, God loves them. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

Psalm 82:3- “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.”

Texas Chick-fil-A & Silent Auction

Chick-fil-A Spirit Night might be the easiest fundraiser I ever participated in. All we needed to do was invite our friends and family to enjoy dinner at Chick-fil-A on our Spirit Night, March 25th, and our team received a share of the profit from the sales we brought in. Setting up the Sprit Night only required a few phone calls with a manager at our local Chick-fil-A. Many of our friends and family were able to drive thru and support our trip. Other friends and family joined us at the Chick-fil-A for dinner. The best part of the whole night was the opportunity to share with those friends about our trip and awaited adoption. I really appreciated the support we received. I enjoyed meeting a few of the Wilson's friends and family. It was a great night.

Another fundraiser the Texas part of our mission team organized was an online silent auction. We used Facebook to promote and conduct a silent auction with donated items. The Wilson family and I approached our creative and local business owning friends for donations of crafts, art, and gift certificates to auction off to benefit our trip. Since all of the items were generously donated, all of the profits went directly to benefit our trip. We had 43 items to auction off, and we were so appreciative off all the donations. I approached a craft boutique in town, and several of her vendors that don't even know me donated several items. It was humbling to know that people I didn't even know were supporting our trip.

The auction was held on Facebook. We posted pictures of the items, and anyone could bid on an item by commenting on the picture. The highest bid at the end of the weekend was the winner.

My friend Pam Cavitt, who adopted her daughter Abby from Ethiopia six years ago, crocheted some baby hats and shoes for our auction. Abby was so excited about the hats and shoes being used to benefit the children in the Ethiopian orphanages.

Many of my friends had a good time bidding on items on our auction.

Two particularly "hot" items that got lots of bids were the mother/daughter apron set and the hand-sewn chair.

After our first silent auction, a friend of mine donated two Pandora bracelets to auction off in a second silent auction. The Wilson family and I gathered a few more items and held a smaller, second silent auction on Facebook. Since Mother's Day was approaching, we decided to auction things that would be great gift items.

After the second auction, I was so surprised to find that my trip was close to being paid for. The first conversation I had with our team leader, Cindy Douglass, she asked me what I was most worried about of all the things that might be worrisome about our trip. I replied that my biggest worry was affording the trip. We were in the process of saving money for our adoption from Ethiopia. Paying for the mission trip on top of saving for our adoption was something I was going to have to trust God to do.

After the fundraisers, the trip was completely not a burden at all. It was a blessing to see God provide for my mission trip and the trip for the rest of our team. It was also a blessing to include others in our trip, allowing them to have the blessing of being a part of our mission to Ethiopia.

Written by Jennifer Lane

Mother Daughter Tea

One of our most memorable fundraisers was the Mother/Daughter Missions Tea at Grace Community Church. We were privileged to be the guest speakers at the event and addressed more than 40 girls, ages two years-old through fifth grade, plus their mothers and grandmothers, about the orphan crisis in Ethiopia and the work we will be doing on our trip.

Several of our team members spoke to the group about some of the statistics of Ethiopia and the orphan crisis, why it is important to be the hands and feet of God, and also about some of the urgent needs of the orphanages in Addis Ababa. There even was a little African dancing! The portion that seemed to affect the girls the most was when we asked each of them to look under their chairs for pictures of items on the orphanage's urgent needs list. The preschool and elementary aged girls were really struck by how some of the items that are easily accessible to them every day, such as vitamins, socks, underwear, games, puzzles, Band-Aids and medicines, are not available to the sweet children we will meet at the orphanages.

At the conclusion of the tea, team member Keri Bosch shared final thoughts with the group on how there is a God that knows and loves each and every one of those orphans we will meet, and if these children have no one in the world to love them except for Jesus Christ, they have enough. That's why it is imperative that Christians bring the good news of Jesus Christ all over the world.

After our presentation, the girls were invited to the church's atrium to do a mission project. Each girl filled two 1 lb coffee bags with delicious smelling Ethiopian coffee. Each girl also decorated coffee filters and made them into flowers, packaging the coffee bags quite beautifully! All the participants at the tea were invited to the church service on Sunday to sell the coffee to the congregation. All proceeds from the selling of the Ethiopian coffee went directly to our trip and the work we will be doing in Addis Ababa.

The tea was such a fun night of fellowship and such a blessing to our team. A special thank you goes out to Grace Community Church for partnering with our team on many different levels. We truly appreciate your support and encouragement.

Psalm 82:3- "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed."

Written by Suzanne Ward

Garage Sale & Art Camp

The team has had some amazing kids involved in the fundraising efforts of our trip. From the beginning of our decision to go on this mission trip we began thinking of ways to include our children and help them to be a part of this journey as well.

Our family had a garage sale to help raise funds for our trip costs and decided to have a craft/bake sale at the same time. The idea was that our kids would run the craft portion and make the items that would go in it. The kids initially began by knitting scarfs with their grandmother’s help. Then our kids’ friends began to get involved as well.  It just exploded!  They made duct tape creations, sold lemonade, baked cookies to sell, etc.  Helping them create these items was the perfect opportunity to talk with them more about the orphan crisis in Africa and the small ways we can be a part of God’s plan to reach these children and their communities. The kids helped make signs for the garage sale and they were given full charge of their craft tables and money. After the sale, we took the kids who had been involved to Wal-Mart.  They were able to spend all the money they had raised on needed items for the orphans.  What better way to teach kids about service, compassion, and missions than by having them actually create the product and take those funds to buy needed items that we could physically take with us to Ethiopia. They really enjoyed the economics side of this project and it was such a joy to listen as they told people what they were doing with their profits!  They’re invested.

Then Libbie (our oldest daughter who’s going on the trip with us) and her best friend came up with a really creative idea this summer and created and led an art camp for kids age 5-8. All on their own they created sign-up sheets and contacted families and they ended up with 18 kids signed up for this camp. Honestly, I completely underestimated the two of them! I did not realize until the night before that they indeed had a legitimate camp that was about to happen. Libbie’s friend devised the projects, purchased the necessary supplies, and bought snacks and drinks for the kids. My lesson… never underestimate the determination of a child on a mission and fueled by Christ’s will for their life! They did great and with their excess funds over their costs, we were able to purchase 30 blankets for one of the orphanages we will visit that is severely lacking in bedding.

God has just blown our socks off with the awesome and creative ways He has provided and used his children for good!  We are in awe!

Matthew 6:25-26:  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Written by Barry, Shelly and Libbie Wilson

Tshirts & Bracelets

God has blessed this team with an over-abundance of funds!  Most of those funds didn't come in without a bit of work on our part. Our team put forth many fundraising efforts. One of the easiest fundraisers we did was selling T-shirts and bracelets.

Selling T-shirts is quite easy as long as they have an appealing design or logo. As a team we worked together to choose a shirt that we would all enjoy wearing and one that we thought well-represented the meaning of our trip. After that we ordered the shirts at a bulk rate. The advertising was super easy! We just had to wear the shirts. We wore them anywhere and everywhere: to church, to work, to all of our fundraising events, and anywhere else we chose. They were very popular and we were able to sell about 150 shirts.

The bracelets were also a very easy way to raise funds. We thought they would be popular with the children and they definitely were. One benefit of selling the bracelets is that you can sell them very inexpensively and still make a good profit. They are great for those who want to support the team but perhaps cannot afford a T-shirt. They were also a great way to get people to pray for our trip. They wear the bracelet, it reminds them of our trip, and it reminds them to pray for us. We were able to sell 200 bracelets.

These items have also brought about further opportunities to speak with others about our trip. I wear my team shirt frequently. Many people have commented on it or asked about it. Just today I wore it to Target and the lady in front of me in the check out line asked me about it. I was given the opportunity to tell her about our trip!

God is at work everywhere all the time!  He uses big and small things to further His Kingdom...even a T-shirt. :)

Written by: Angie Hudgins 

Parents Night Out

Our team is made up of such unique people and it has been a real treat to see God orchestrate all the details as only He can! Seven of us on the team are teachers and I don't think that is unintentional. Four of us teach together at the same school. Little Lambs has been so supportive of our team and the work we will do in Ethiopia.  As part of our fundraising efforts we decided to have a Parents Night Out at school.

We ended up having two Parents Night Out events and both were so well received. Between the two nights we ended up having around 150 kids and countless volunteers who gave of their time and talent to make each of the nights such a success.We spent our time playing, singing, eating and learning more about Ethiopia. It was a great time and another example of God's provision for this trip.

 

 We want the people whom God has placed in our path on this journey to hear our heart and to understand that we are not going to Africa  to solve the orphan crisis. We can however make a difference in the lives of those that we are blessed to meet as we share the love that has no boundaries and knows no color. The love that only comes through our Savior Jesus Christ.

Written by: Cindy Douglass

Support Letters - It takes a team

And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 1 Cor. 12:16-21

The body of Christ, the church, is an amazing thing. It is alive with the breath of the Holy Spirit through the blood of Jesus Christ. We all have a role.Those roles look different and they may look different at various points in our walk with Jesus.God can use even the most seemingly insignificant role to bring Himself glory.  It is an awesome privilege we have as followers of Christ to be allowed to participate in His kingdom work. Mission work is just one of the many examples of the church working together to further His kingdom and bring Him glory. One of the most important things missionaries do, whether they go for days or years to the mission field, is to invite others to join them on their journey of obedience. One of the most significant tools we have used as a team is to engage others through support letters. It can be overwhelming to see the dollar amount it takes to go on a mission trip. Then the thoughts of panic arise when faced with raising such an amount. But faith steps in and we allow God to take control. And then the people of God, the body, accepts the invitation. We see God working and providing for our longing to show Him to the world and we stand in awe.

Friends and family, near and far, through God’s leading, have played an integral part already in reaching the orphans of Ethiopia, to provide for their physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We would not be going if it were not for their obedience in putting their blessings to use for His kingdom. God’s provision and faithfulness is clearly evident in the gracious giving of so many. It is hard to ask for help and even harder to specifically ask for money. But if we had not, we would have robbed so many of the privilege and blessing of being a part of His work. We would have taken away the joy that comes from helping and giving to others. We would have never allowed those who gave the opportunity to play their role in the big picture God is painting. Thank you to all who gave in response to our letters. Thank you for your obedience and for allowing God to work in your life, in our lives and the precious little lives we will meet in Ethiopia.

Written by: Keri Bosch

Meet Suzanne Ward & Courtney Rowe

My name is Suzanne Ward and I am from Raleigh, NC (born and raised…that is a rarity in our parts!) My husband, Wes, and I have been married for 11 amazing years, and we have two children, our daughter Taylor (7) and our son, Will (4). They keep us on our toes and really are the coolest kids- we are blessed!  I work as a freelance public relations consultant and I am also very involved at our church, Grace Community, in the children's ministry program. I have had the pleasure of going on several mission trips through my church (to Mexico and Jamaica), but this will be my first time to Africa and my first time doing mission work in orphanages.

About two years ago, God placed the vulnerable of the world on my heart. It seemed like everything I was reading and through conversations I kept having, God was preparing my heart to step out of my comfort zone. I felt I was being called to serve in a way that would take me to a new level of dependence and trust in the Lord.  As a mom of two small children, I wasn't sure exactly what that would look like or what I would be capable of, but I kept listening for God's voice and vision for my life. And here I am…headed to Africa this summer!

God has aroused compassion in me in recent years, and the decision to go to Africa has led me to a place where I have to trust God for support, for safety, and for success. I am humbled to go and love on the children of Ethiopia, and strongly feel that every child should have the opportunity to hear about Jesus and be shown His love.

The best part about me going to Africa is that Jesus is using ME! I am not the perfect Christian. I don't always know what to say or how to quote scripture at just the right time. And I sin. But He is still using me. And for that, I am grateful and humbled. I know my heart will never be the same.

 Hi! I am Courtney. Born and raised in the great state of North Carolina, child of God since the age of 13, wife to Ron for 14 years, and mom to three wonderful and crazy kids: Anna (9), Ryan (6), Leah (4). I have always wanted to go on some sort of mission trip but figured that wasn't really an option for me during this season of life with young children. And besides, I told God when it was time, I would go anywhere but Africa. Hahaha! So of course I was very surprised when I felt God calling to me go on this trip at this time to…Africa. I went to several people for council, hoping they would talk me out of it and tell me I was crazy, but instead they each were very encouraging and told me to GO! God has been so gracious to confirm over and over that it is His will for me to be on this trip to Ethiopia.

Prior to this happening, I couldn't have told you one thing about Ethiopia, its people, its poverty, or the orphan crisis there. I am learning so much about the richness of these people and their culture and am so excited to share the love of Christ with the precious children that we encounter there.  I have never been outside of the United States and am nervous about leaving home and my family for 10 days, but I am confident that God is going to do a great work and I am thankful He is allowing me to be a part of it.

Meet Jennifer Lane & Shannon Mathis

My name is Shannon Mathis and I am from Raleigh, North Carolina. I am 22 years old. Growing up, my youth group was very mission-minded. I had the opportunity to really see how to do missions, each with their own unique goal, at a considerably young age. Having been a part of three church planting missions in the U.S. and one church planting/orphan outreach mission in Jamaica, I developed the cognizance of our lost world and the need for Christians to say “yes” to God. My life since high school has not taken the road I would have expected it to, but then again, when is God’s plan ever what we expect? After a few semesters of college I was married at 19, went straight into working full time, and bought my first home. I am still perusing a degree in dental hygiene, and with my husband being a nurse, we talk often about doing medical missions together in the future. Some have asked the question, “Why do you think God has called you to Ethiopia?" My answer never seems to satisfy how I would like it to sound, but the truth is this: I don’t know. God doesn’t just use the highly educated or the well traveled. God can and WILL use anyone or anything to carry Jesus’ testimony throughout the world in order to build His Kingdom in Heaven.

I'm Jennifer Lane from Amarillo, Texas.  I have been married to my husband James for 17 years, and we have three biological children.  My daughter Lucy is 15, my son Andrew is 11, and my son Gabe is 4.  I have homeschooled Lucy and Andrew for many years.  Our family serves the Lord at an inner-city children's ministry called Citychurch.  My husband James has gone on four mission trips to several countries in Africa.  God used his trip in January of 2013 in South Sudan to call our family to adoption.  We are now on the waiting list with America World Adoption Agency in their Ethiopia program.  We have requested a little boy between the ages of three and seven.  We anxiously wait for the day that we can add him to our family.  We truly enjoy serving at Citychurch, and we love the ministry that we are able to be a part of.  Citychurch is committed to the principle that God has a purpose for every child regardless of their geographical location, financial status, religious affiliation, race, or culture.  We are doing our best to try to transform the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Amarillo by affecting the lives of children.  During the summer, we use bicycles to deliver hundreds of free lunches to disadvantaged children in Amarillo.  Citychurch also has free day camp Bible clubs four days a week during the summer and weekly Bible clubs after-school during the school year.  My husband and I really enjoy riding our bicycles to deliver lunches and teaching Bible clubs at Citychurch.  I am very excited about this mission trip to Ethiopia with AWAA ACT.  This is my first international mission trip and my first trip to Africa.  The goal of our team is to make the orphans we meet feel loved and special.  I feel honored to be able to share the love of Christ with the children we will encounter.  I am happy that God is using me this time of waiting in our adoption journey.  God is showing me how deeply He loves orphans and His plan to provide for them.

Meet Angie Hudgins & Janelle Kennedy

My name is Angie Hudgins. I am first and foremost a child of God. I am also a wife, a mother, and a teacher. I have been married to my husband, Darrin, for 18 years. We have 3 children, ages 16, 14, and 11.  I have served as a public school elementary music teacher for 18 years. I have a love for music and I enjoy sharing that with children.

Several years ago God placed Africa on my heart. I wasn't sure of the reason then and still am not completely sure now. However, I knew if I ever had an opportunity to serve on a mission team to Africa, I would go. In late 2013 a friend shared with me that she was leading a mission trip to Ethiopia. I knew that was the opportunity I had been waiting for.

I am headed to Ethiopia in August of this year, 2014. I hope to share my love of music and my love for Jesus with the children there. I am sure God has a bigger plan than that for this trip though. While I don't know His plan, I go in obedience and eagerly await the blessings He has in store!

My name is Janelle Kennedy and I have been married to my terrific husband Brian for 15 years!  He is an unbelievable dad and a super supportive husband.  We have three amazing children: Taylor (11), Madison (9), & Makenna (5).  I am so blessed to be a mom to these children.  I have participated in a few local mission/ outreaches but never did I imagine traveling to Africa to go a missions trip. I have always had a love for children.  I was blessed with the opportunity to teach secondary mathematics for 10 years before I became a full time mom.  When Cindy first mentioned the trip, I had only know her for about a month.  I remember thinking,"Wow, you go girl!"  God saw through my nervousness and anxiety and called me to go on the trip about 3 months later.  I am so excited to see how God is going to use me on this trip and I can't wait to see how our whole family is changed for the better!!!!

Meet Barry, Shelly and Libbie Wilson

We are Barry and Shelly Wilson from Amarillo, Texas.  We are proud parents to Libbie (12), Ally (8), and Grady (6).  

Our love for Ethiopia began in the summer of 2012 when, by God's leading, our family started the process of adopting from the country.  As we began to educate ourselves on the country of Ethiopia in general, and the orphan crisis specifically, we fell more in love with Ethiopia and grew more heartbroken for the children there.  Earlier this year, as the wait times for adoption started to lengthen, we prayerfully asked God what we could do, or how we could be involved, during this adoption wait time.  As an answer to prayer, He led us to this mission trip.  What a great opportunity to spread the love of Jesus with those whom God has placed on our hearts to care for.  We are extremely excited that Libbie will be traveling on the trip as well.  Our desire as a family is to serve, and we are humbled by the love that Libbie has for those less fortunate, and the passion she has for spreading the Gospel.  Ethiopia, here we come!