Elder

sweetest homecoming.

2012-02-01T15:24:00.003-06:00

Last weekend, we welcomed home our sweet friends Jenna & Phillip and their daughter Emme!!!

It has been an absolute JOY and honor to walk this road with them and to see their daughter come HOME!

Her oldest son Parker & I worked on these signs the week before...pretty good huh :)

lots of waiting.....

there they were!!!!

seriously so much joy and emotion. I'll let the pictures do the talking....

New family of FIVE!!!!

the supporters ;)

I tell you and show you all of this to remind myself & to show you that at the END OF THIS....

there is a beautiful child.

a child that has been prayed for and loved for years.

I have spent a lot of time at the Knights house these past few months, and every time I go over - Jenna & I sit in Emme's empty room. Well the first time I went over to their house post-airport I about cried.

I whispered to Jenna, "We are in Emme's room...and she is HERE!!"

This is her pushing the chair I always sit in, around in circles just giggling and giggling.

She's here and she's perfect.

She is who God picked out for this precious family!

What a joy and honor it has been to watch His plan come to life!

We love you Emme!!!

the best family.

2012-01-31T00:25:00.001-06:00

I recently returned home from a mission trip with Visiting Orphans to Ethiopia & Rwanda. I got to do what I love & document it with photos. I am a little behind but am trying to catch up :) If you want more info on Visiting Orphans, let me know! I love to talk about it!!

The Best Family
Rwanda

I talked about it the day I went there

you can find that here.

but today as I was going through the images of our time there, I was reminded again.

of the hope they have.

and the fun we had.

seeing Daria & David

they have an AMAZING STORY!

Daria & her hubby Glen went on a mission trip over 2 years ago to South Africa, and David was their translator. They fell in love with him and have since spiritually adopted him,

they call him SON.

and this was the 2nd year in a row he got to come serve & love orphans with them in his home continent.

isn't that powerful?

sweet Rachel. Her & Scott (who lead worship all week!) just got engaged over Christmas.

at the Best family, they had us introduce ourselves & they wanted to know certain things about us including if we were married. Scott got up and said his schpeel and then said, "and Rachel's mine".

this was her cute blushing face ;)

what a cool opportunity to go and SERVE with your soon to be spouse!

again, blown away. powerful story!

and Lacey.
{in the Rangers shirt}

she's almost 17.

pre-trip she wasn't thrilled about going.

she even told her mom one day after I left their house (they live in Midland!)...

"that Wynne girl is sorta weird"

{sidenote: YES!}

we were all praying for her hardcore and I remember on the way to Best Family just asking God to please rock her world. change her heart.

and boy did He!

Lacey fell in LOVE with Rwanda (and Ethiopia) and is already planning a trip back.

again: POWERFUL things happen on these sort of trips!

our worship team was the bomb diggity.

the night before we got together to sing & practice and THAT was even powerful.

we kept singing "children of God" {by third day}
the song says.....

we are the saints
we are the children
we've been redeemed
we've been forgiven
we are the sons & daughters of our God!

that song will forever remind me of Rwanda 2011.
it was an absolute JOY to lead precious children in worship all over Rwanda & Ethiopia
{even if I can't sing. my voice is beautiful to God!}

back to Glen & Daria
it was amazing to see them RETURN to a place they had been last year
to bless the socks off the leaders & kids
to give and receive gifts on Visiting Orphans behalf
a true partnership has been created!

me & Patrick

my girl, Rachel

all in all, it was a great time at The Best Family.
worshiping God, dancing our hearts out {some of our team members have some MOVES, i'm not saying names....John & Sid}, encouraging and loving on some precious kiddos.

Best Family Rwanda
Confident Hope!

We were able to leave money with Best Family for their education and they were SO VERY THANKFUL! yeah God!

Give1Save1!!!!

2012-01-29T23:16:00.000-06:00

I just got home from a amazing weekend outside Atlanta with over 430 other adoptive mommas & let me tell you God rocked my world (created for care!)!

{also got to spend time with fellow give1save1 adoptive moms Rachel & Lauren!}

Before I crash for the night (8 hours of sleep the past 2 nights combined....) and detox from all the diet coke (might have had 3 yesterday....) and coffee I had this weekend, I wanted to tell you about this amazing opportunity Stephen & I have been given to tell our story!

Give1Save1

Our adoption journey wouldn't be a journey without all of the people that have so selflessly joined to be a part of it. We love inviting people in to be a part, as we all have a part to play in taking care of the orphan (&widow!). This is part of the reason I love Beth's heart behind Give1Save1.....

The truth is, international adoption is expensive. It will cost up to $30,000 to bring our precious Camp home. God has been so faithful in sending us cheerful givers to JOIN with us and again, be a part of Camp's LEGACY! That's where give1save1 comes in......Give1Save1 is all about not 1 person being able to donate $30,000 but what if 30,000 people each gave $1???????!!!!!!!!

In Beth's words, when you GIVE 1...you Save1

"And your dollar will be saving and restoring lives in all kinds of ways"

So....take a minute, visit the post, watch the video (made by our very special friend Dustin!), give $1 (or more :), and help us spread the news! While you are at the new blog, take a look at some of the resources I have in the tabs up top!

WE LOVE YALL!!!!

6 months.

2012-01-27T11:30:00.000-06:00

So....
on the 11th of this month we hit our 6 month waiting for Camp mark.
I was in Korah, Ethiopia and Stephen was having a 24 hour fast from technology at the lake to read/reflect/make goals.

I thought he would take a pic with a 5 & I would with a 1 or vise versa but he didn't get the memo.
haha.
I guess he had no one to take his picture.

But here we are - 6 months of waiting.
* our agency says current wait time for referral is 19 months *

I can't believe that out of the 6 months that since we DTE (dossier to Ethiopia) I've been in Ethiopia two months & Rwanda one on our waiting date.

Every month I think, "I'm not going to be anywhere interesting next month on the 11th" and that has NOT been true. I've only been home in Midland 1 out of 6 months (which if you know me well, you know that is no surprise)

I love that I celebrated this month IN Ethiopia.
Just like I did the very 1st month!
I have so much to tell you about my extra week in Ethiopia but that will have to wait.....

because I'm headed to Atlanta today for an adoptive mommas retreat!!!!!
I seriously can't. even. wait.
to be refreshed, encouraged, spend time with the Lord and with new friends that share in my same love for orphans!

I have no doubt that me & my blog BFF Lauren will spend many late nights talking, crying, laughing, praying, then laughing and crying some more.

Will you pray for this weekend?
That God would form great bonds, friendships and partnerships
that He will speak clearly to me about what to do while we WAIT
that I'll start to process more of this past trip to Africa.

and get your dollars ready.....
it's our week for Give1Save1 starting SUNDAY!!!

our really good friend/brother Dustin helped us make an awesome video that really tells our story and we would be HONORED if you helped us spread it. Tell your friends. facebook it. tweet it. blog it. email it. the more people that hear, the more people will hear the GOSPEL and will maybe be encouraged to ask God what he wants for their family!

PS- It's Lauren's week now....so head over & give HER your dollar too!

So SUNDAY.
get ready!

the team.

2012-01-26T19:15:00.000-06:00

before I go on & on about my trip to Ethiopia & Rwanda and start dropping names, thought you should meet some of our team.

it was an honor & privilege to go on this trip with my sister, Rachel.

she's wanted to go to Africa long before it was even on my radar.

it get to see her in action, loving on kids, was priceless.

she has the most kind, compassionate, loving heart.

I'm so proud of her!

My good friend from Midland, Alison, also came on the trip!

I'm so proud of her for taking the risk and coming on the trip.

it was nice to have another creative/photog friend on the trip too.

she loved the kids & those on our team very well.

we have a new bond & for that I am so thankful.

God chose to allow 2 families from our church (Stonegate Fellowship) to come on this trip.

the Harpers & Lawrences

they are in the same community group & the fact that they brought their teenage kids (well, Baylie is only 12!) was amazing. set a great example to me of how I want to involve my family in missions that's for sure.

I loved hearing James talk every night about how thankful he is he get's to experience this new perspective with his wife & kids and on the last night hearing Sid praise & affirm not only every member on the team but each member of his family as well. WOW.

Love you Wendy, Sid, Lacie, Sydnie, Baylie, James, Elaina, Chris & Cameron!

as we were getting around in country Frank & Merrill (our fearless leaders!) made it easy on everyone and split us up into "groups". There was a church group from Wyoming, the Lawrences, the Harpers and then there were the misfits. yes, the island of misfit toys as Frank called us.

the girls!

Katherine, Elise, Karlie, Kellyn, Merrill, Chandler, Rachel, me & Alison.

we were quite the crew.

our New Years Eve night in Rwanda made me laugh more than I have in a long time.

I loved getting to know each of these girls hearts and getting to experience Africa with each of them.

the Vermes!

although they were only with us on half of our Rwanda portion, they were amazing "team" members.

it was the biggest joy and honor to spend time with them at Noel.

affections are stirred.

2012-01-25T22:22:00.002-06:00

tonight at our community group, as we were watching a Matt Chandler Philipians video he asked a very good question.

he asked, "what stirs your affections for christ"

I LOVE this question and couldn't wait to hear what everyone said.

a lot of us said similar things: good worship music, being outside in gods beautiful nature, a lot of people talked about their children's child like faith.

but the first thing that came to my mind were stories like this one:

sweet Emme Knight that was once an orphan and now has a family!

Sunday night we got the opportunity to be at the airport when Jenna & Phillip and Emme came home.

and I took some pics ;)

leaving the airport, jamming to World Mandate CD, just THINKING about what the Lord has done in their lives, in Emme's life...the RESTORATION and REDEMPTION.

THAT is what stirs my affections for Christ.

I got a new look!

2012-01-25T22:19:00.000-06:00

hi!

I promise I am STILL here.

it's been a pretty crazy week.

I've been nesting?

I blame it on the new year.

I felt like I couldn't do ANYTHING productive until I cleaned out every drawer, closet, room, etc.

I have the makings of really successful garage sale now at least.

I mean, check out some of my skills!

ok ok I've also been doing a little blog re-design :)

it's not 100% finished and the OCD perfectionist in me doesn't want anyone to see it until it's done, but hey it's a work in progress.

just like me :)

what do you think? you like it?

special thanks to Danielle at The Blue Room!

{Lauren & her cute family}

my blog BFF Lauren has a BIG week!

she is being featured on give1save1 this week to help raise funds for their adoption (2nd one!) from Ghana!

it would mean the WORLD to her (and me!) if you went over and gave $1!

I get to meet her in person, for the first time, at the Created for Care adoptive mommas retreat I'm going to this weekend in Atlanta!!!!!

oh I am so so very excited.

{I also get to spend time with Jessica & some of the other Noonday gals!!}

hoping that will also help me process what's going on in my heart

and when I get home I promise to share my Africa stories.

oh, so I'm guest posting today over at my friend Allison's blog....

a little fun Africa story :)

go read it here.

picking up the pieces.

2012-01-17T10:27:00.001-06:00

I'm back.
I've been back since Friday night and let me tell you friends, it's been hard.
leaving Ethiopia was maybe one of the hardest things I've ever done.
I felt like I was leaving good friends, family, and CHILDREN (my children!) behind.
{ way more on this to come. }
I wanted/want to just rip my heart out.

I have so many stories to tell you from my time in Ethiopia with Visiting Orphans & then my extra week with the Project 61 team. Since blogger wasn't working, I got a tad behind...but they are wonderful stories, and once I can put the pieces of my heart back together - I'll give it to you.

What I didn't expect when I got home was all the changes that are going on around me.
good changes.

changes that make those nearest & dearest to me really happy

Chloe moved to Uganda, Jenna left Sunday to pick up Emme, Jenn is adjusting to life with a teenage boy (Rwandan no less!), Alli is about to have her baby, Laura found out she was having a boy, Shannon got her baby bed & there house is being transformed for baby E, Amanda- well she knows, Lauren & Michael (our beloved neighbors) are moving to Austin, and the list goes on.

changes.
I don't like changes.
I pretend I do, but when it affects me - I don't.
that sounds really selfish. and it is.
but I have to be honest here.
I've thrown myself a pity party a few times the last few weeks.

it goes something like this,
"why is it always someone else's turn!", "why do I always play the supporting role",
"when is it my turn!!!!"
"I want to have a baby", "I want to do great things for Jesus"
"why why why"

yep.
it's embarrassing.
but i'm just being honest.

I was reading in one of my handy dandy devo's about how to "reflect" after you've come home from a mission trip this morning & it hit me.

It was talking about God finishing what He started in us, it says the one "who was, and is and is to come" is able to complete what He started.

It goes on to say that we are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, uniquely designed and ultimately called to do tasks for the living God. It goes on to talk about something I want to pretend it doesn't....simple obedience. It says, "as God lives in you, he wants to use you just as you are, right where you live."

I'm beginning to not want to even live where I live. My heart isn't here, it's in Ethiopia. How can I be used right where I am when I don't want to be here?

This is where it gets messy.
I know, in my heart, that I have to be obedient to God. To where he's called me.
Yes, I want to do BIG things for God.
but it's not about me and what I want.
it's about obeying God in the simple day to day.
it says, "God asks us to do the common, ordinary things in extraordinarily good fashion."
I just have to trust and obey.

so my question is this
will you pray for me?
pray that my heart will be prepared to be obedient to God right here in Midland, Texas
that I will be 100% open to what He's called me to do
that I would pray & ask Him to reveal to me what that even is
that my heart would heal
that somehow the hole that is there every single day will not hinder His plans for me right here
that my attitude would change
and I would get ready for the battle.....
because the battle isn't just in Addis Abbaba, Ethiopia...it's right where I live.

Thank you for letting me be 100% open & honest.
I don't ever want to offend anyone.
I pray that my fabulous wonderful friends & church family in Midland understand me enough to know that my lack of wanting to be right here, right now, has NOTHING to do with them.
thank you for praying.

rwanda to ethiopia

2012-01-03T11:58:00.000-06:00

{blogger wasn't working, so my good friend Jenna is posting it for me...so this is a little late!}

we are getting ready to leave rwanda.

i’m not sure how I feel. I am sad, really sad. rwanda is a place I would actually love to live. it’s beautiful and so are it’s people. I am so excited to get to ethiopia but I am at the same time sad to leave my new friends in Rwanda. Getting to spend 2 days with my friends at Noel was pretty amazing. connections were made, friendships were formed. ones that I pray will last my lifetime. As my friends told me they would never forget me, I too will never forget them. They have captured a piece of my heart. The reunification process in Rwanda is a little scary. Thinking of my boys being forced to a home with people who don’t want them makes me want to snatch them away now and prevent them any harm. Justen & Evorite are my two. Evoirte told me over & over he wanted to come home to Texas with me & go to school :( When we had to drop off/pick up things at Noel this morning on the way out both of them came to the bus to hug me one more time. Rip my heart out! E asked me when I was coming back, and Justen remains his sweet, humble, “no problem” self.

Tara lives at Noel. She went on a Visiting Orphans trip & fell in love and now she lives there. We sat together on the bus and it was amazing to get to encourage her, let her listen to some rocking worship music, treat her to a new long skirt and in turn recieve amazing blessings from watching her live her life in Rwanda. And she knows & loves my precious Justen. I will get to communicate with him through her & she is going to try to get him to write his story and send to me.

I am very very excited to know Tara and to have a inside connection with my new friends, who feel more like my sons. Jenn and I shared another tearful embrace this morning as we said goodbye. It really is the biggest god blessing to have been in Rwanda at Noel together! It really makes no sense, so it could only be him! I am so thankful to Him for all of my many blessings. To HIM be the glory!!!!!!

When we got off the plane in Ethiopia, I was the first in line behind Glenn. Usually the last, but today I was so ready to get off that plane & to the ethiopian guest house! I literally felt like I wanted to pee my pants I was so excited. Stomach turning in knots, giddy, excited! Seeing Hennock & Maste was such a breath of fresh air. I love being greeted by friends at the airport ;) We are settling in the the EGH and will spend our first day in Korah tomorrow! Please pray for our team as we go into the streets of Korah to love on those precious precious children. more tomorrow!

I need Africa.

2012-01-01T16:10:00.000-06:00

you know that quote, from Mocha club?

"I need Africa more than Africa needs me"

well, I am a believer.

My heart is here.

I was telling some of the girls on my team today that I feel more comfortable and more at home in Africa, with the orphans than I do at home in Texas.

I need this place.

and the children.

today was full of joy, laughter, dancing (and I mean teaching Emmanuel how to 2 step & pretzel and me learning a Rwandan dance!), singing, jamming to songs on my phone, giving away shoes, and lots of holding hands, hugs and LOVE.

Justin & Evorite (my boys!) were by my side the whole day.

the became my little assistants!

one would be wearing my camera backpack and then other with my phone or...gasp...my camera!

{this is how much I trust them}

I taught them both how to use my camera yesterday & they became quite the photographers.

setting up an area for headshots, bossing people around, haha.

I only let them 2 hold my camera & when Justen tried to give it to someone I got onto him like a mom.

ha.

they were very protective with my things and with me.

the best part of the day is when I got to give them their new shoes!!!

they both had really terrible flip flops from the market & E's were broken so he was having a really hard time walking yesterday.

so when we went shopping, I bought them yellow & red chuck taylors ;)

I was actually a little nervous when I gave them to them. but there were lots of "thank you", and "I love you" and "very good" words exchanged.

and Jenn was there to photograph the whole thing!

I got one picture of just them after on my camera & it may be my FAVORITE picture I've ever taken.

I can't wait to show it to you :)

there is so much more to tell.

but I am so tired!

we had a fabulous meal tonight by the lake & I had some A+ conversations with women who love Africa, Jesus & his children. feel refreshed, renewed, ready to conquer the world ;)

we head to Ethiopia in the morning.....

{just talking about it at dinner tonight made me so very happy}

pray for safe travel, no car/plane sickness, time to rest & be renewed, spend good time with Jesus & his word, time to reflect on what we've seen this week.

more to come :)

pictures were taking too long to load.....go to my instagram (@wynne4) and later facebook to see pics from today!!

happy.

2011-12-31T16:36:00.001-06:00

Noel.

the largest orphanage in Rwanda

600 kids

ages vary from newborn to 20's

the moment I stepped off the bus, I met my boy Evoriste. (pronounced like mount everest!)

you know how kids just find you?

he's 16. he loves futbol, basketball & "sport" which is gymnastics basically.

he was on the team that preformed for us later in the day

{while I sat like a proud mom & video taped and cheered my heart out!}

he wants to be in construction & build houses when he gets done with school.

all day long Evoriste was right by my side. hold my hand, leading me where we were going, and asking all sorts of questions about life in America.

when I lost him, I felt panicked & sad.

I love the way I feel when I'm around him!

{does that sound weird? it's an africa thing}

{she's the one in the picture up top right in front of me with the blue sweatshirt!}

the other friend that greeted me at the bus was Adeline.

she's 18 & she's blind.

not who I was expecting at all!

she was the kindest, warmest person ever.

a very vidid moment was standing outside the bus holding her hand & her saying "I'm so happy"

I loved singing with her too!

she told me later that day that I was "a friend in her heart", "I will never forget me", " I love you"

she too was with me a lot of the day!

besides E & A - I loved spending time with Justin, whom I called Justin Beiber. he's 16 also & loved it when I videoed him singing & dancing to "baby"

John, who is a tall lanky boy with a texas belt buckle that wants to be a tour guide one day! he served as our translator most of the day :)

{all my pics of Arisene, pronounced Arson, are on my real camera...you'll see him soon!}

Arisene who has the biggest cutest crooked teeth smile you've ever seen.

he LOVES music, and was on the drumming team! every time I saw him he would say "my friend, my friend!"

besides painting nails, jamming to beiber, getting a tour of the place & seeing so many cute babies, watching basketball game, drum show & gymnastics show and FALLING IN LOVE with my friends....I finally saw Jenn & Chris and met Alain.

I was in the big room watching the girls dance and sitting next to Adeline and I saw Jenn coming in with her 2 girls by her side. I literally got up, ran almost in the middle of the performance straight to hug Jenn. I'm not going to lie that there were some tears. We stood & embraced for what seemed to be a few minutes and cried. I am tearing up writing this. I seriously can't believe that we are at Noel together, when they come to get Alain. I feel like I haven't told yall the whole story & that's for another day...but it's been a HUGE god thing!

tonight we went to dinner with the team & Chris/Jenn/Alain and I felt like I was staring at Alain all night. He was so happy, so full of joy, so thankful to be with them. They introduced him to angry birds...and this was his face! so cute!!! he is spoiled ;)

then we went to their room & I got to watch/video/photograph them giving Alain a suitcase full of new clothes! He just kept saying, "so good", "thank you". THEN we made him try them on for a fashion show and what fashion show isn't complete without a Justin Beiber dance party?! Alain would come out of the bathroom dancing to the beibs. that boy can DANCE! I got it on video....

I seriously felt like crying tears of joy ALL day.

He was once an orphan living at Noel & now he's going to San Antonio to go to school & be a part of a family!

it's a beautiful thing!

signing off from my crack room in Rwanda,

Wynne

WORDS from today: loved, full, thankful, joyful, nerve racking & happy

{from the girls in room 123 trying to wait up for New Years 2012!}

ps - just rang in the new year Rwanda style! i've never laughed so hard in a long time!

happy new year from rwanda!!!

some of the girls this morning before going to Noel!

bringing hope. imbubazi.

2011-12-30T13:15:00.001-06:00

today's activities wore me out.

we are settled in Gusini & at the hotel and without running water working, I just took a baby wipe bath & am sitting in bed.

but I had to write to tell you a little bit about our day at Imbubazi!

it is a beautiful orphanage nestled in a flower plantation.

it was started by an American woman in 1994 after the genocide

there are mostly older kids that live at this beautiful place 7 km down a pot holed filled dirt road in Rwanda

we all said today so many times, "girls are just girls" - and it's true

no matter where you live, girls love to do all the same things: make jewelry, sit around & talk, sing & dance! and that we did!

I can't wait to show you pictures of the girls with their awesome necktie necklaces we made with them, show you video of everyone busting move learning their traditional dance, or video of us singing (with Sid playing guitar) amazing grace in their dorm room.

connecting with the girls was hard work, but at the end of the day we made friends that we will pray for & think about often. my special friends were Sandra & Marissa - Marissa wants to be a chef & Sandra a doctor! They love Jesus, and reading their bibles. marissas's fave book is Proverbs & Sandra's is Acts. they both have big dreams and bright futures. it was an honor to spend the day with them!

at the end of the day we got to pass out the sheets & backpacks we collected & brought!!!

it was so fun - they got a huge round of applause.

one of the boys spoke and it brought tears to my eyes when he said, "thank you for coming & giving us hope to live again"

I know some people are against short term missions, but when someone tells you thank you for bringing them HOPE to live again.....it's hard to argue that you aren't making a difference.

so much more but I'm so tired....

so many funny stories from our team but I'm still laughing at Michaels quote on the bus leaving...

"i can't believe that in a matter of 10 minutes I was first playing with puppies, then I was shown the most beautiful garden I've ever seen, then I was pulled into a choir of people in lavender".

yea....it's a story!

we are going to Noel tomorrow!!

and get to meet up with Jenn, Chris & Alain

if you have been following you know the crazy story there & WHAT a GOD thing it is that we are all going to be together in Rwanda. pray for their travel from Kigali and just a great day loving on kids!

more tomorrow....

the BEST family.

2011-12-29T14:06:00.002-06:00

the best family.

today we spent time with the best family.

a group of mostly boys (but some girls) who are orphaned from the genocide.

the founders are four 20-something guys who themselves were orphaned by the genoicde.

they basically were street kids that raised themselves.

were there for each other & shared in the love of christ and in all their posessions.

sharing & loving christ were their big themes.

we were greeted at the bus by all the children putting their hands out to shake our hands & greet us.

in normal african fashion, of coarse

I prayed that the children I was supposed to be with would find me.

sweet Rachel (appropriate) found me & grabbed my hand and I literally heard her tell me “I like this one” and then called to her other friend to come join us.

rachel, belize, Jacques and I spent the day on the school bench holding hands, playing hand clap games, and just enjoying being together.

after a short history of the best family, we were greeted with gifts!

the children all gave us a bracelet that says “the best family” and VO was presented with gifts. they could not be more thankful, grateful, or polite.

what happened next was pretty amazing.

after some of the kids went into the middle of the room & did their special talent (rapping, singing, dancing) they sang us some songs.

Most involved clapping, dancing, and jumping around.

then we sang our songs!
imagine 15 americans with 2 guitars, a sax, a drum (ok that was the Rwandan), ribbon dancer style ribbons, and some rhythym makers for the kids & a small room.

it was amazing worshiping with them.

we sang “awesome god” and we switched off singing in engish & then their language.

it was beautiful.

we had SO MUCH FUN.

it turned into a major dance party...which you KNOW I l-o-v-e-d!

these kids were so appreciative for our message of hope, our love & our donations towards their education.

I loved my 3 friends. looking them in the eye, telling them I loved them, hugging on them and being their sister in christ for the day. it was worth it.

can’t wait to return to spend time with the best family!

tomorrow it's off to Imbubazzi (spelling?) and then Noel! it's a 4 hour drive...

pray for saftey as we travel

and that we can show & share jesus love with the kids tomorrow!

we made it to Rwanda!

2011-12-28T13:22:00.001-06:00

just a quick update, after 36+ hours of travel we are in Rwanda!

{it's a a long story but thankful we made it safely!}

Alison, Rachel & I are sitting on the stairs of the apartment style hotel in Kigali and I feel like it's freshman dorms all over again. on our laptops, talking to everyone that comes by.

we just finished meeting with our team (I'm on worship/dance/bible stories) and let me just say.

amazing.

they heard us 200 yards away jamming on our guitars & saxaphone.

"children of god" really got me.

tears streamed down my face already.

we have an amazing team!!!!

the worship team + a few others are going to the Best family tomorrow and from what I heard it's a full out dance party! I am excited......

ok sorry...backtrack!

I was greeted in Rwanda by my friend Norbert (Jessica's attorney from their adoption who is also helping Jenn!)

You know when you show up somewhere & you are hoping to see someone you know...well that was me today & I can't believe Norbert came to the airport to SEE ME! ah! loved giving him big hugs & introducing him to my friends.

then I got to meet JANE!

our guide & the other piece to the Jenn/Norbert/Alain puzzle.

internet is too slow & I'm too tired to put pictures up but just wanted to give a quick update.

and ask yall for PRAYER!

my teammates: Alison, Lacey & Wendy are all feeling sick from the travel. please pray for their health.

pray for our time tomorrow with the best family

that they will see the love of jesus through us

that we can worship with them freely

oh, and pray for my heart. it's broken again already.

on the plane I couldn't stop thinking about Eyob.

and the boys on the dump eating the sugar packets

and his dream of being a pilot

praying that I form relationships with the kids in Rwanda too!

goodnight!

to the battlefield.

2011-12-25T22:41:00.004-06:00

onward

to a new african adventure

writing a new story

being wrecked & ruined all over again

my friend Lauren said it well here, when she said....

To be right smack dab in the middle of God’s will is the best place to be. To trust him for everything is the wisest and safest place to be. It’s also the scariest place. It’s that place where we surrender all control and say yes to literally anything God wants to do in our lives. It means that what we thought our lives would look like and the plans we made for ourselves will be replaced by wild adventure. It means that things could get messy and crazy and hard all to glorify the name of Jesus.

So we’ll surrender our plans… we’ll give up our tame little life for the most marvelous adventure of all… a life that is used for His glory.

I hear ya sister.

my life over the past year looks totally different than it used to.

or at least I hope it does.

I've been changed, and I'm being transformed.

and it's scarry & messy & hard. (it sometimes makes me cry, right Jenna!)

today was no different.

a really hard day of travel.

the enemy is trying to stop us.

but God has gone before us....

he is with us & by the power of the holy spirit we will do what he has created us to do.

we have victory! we are free!

I didn't know what was coming last time.

this time I do....

praying & claiming his Word & His promises tonight!

to the battlefield.....

I'll try to blog as often as possible....but if you want to be added to the email updates:

email my husband, Stephen

jselder05@gmail.com

Grace & Peace!

Oh....

so Stephen & I didn't do gifts this year, but today in my seat in the car on the way to the airport, was this!

notes of encouragement from sister friends & family :)

words of affirmation is my love language.

my hunny knows me well.

I've been working on the same thing for my sister & little did i know my hubby was working behind my back on one for me!

I've read through them all & know I'll pour over them again & again over the next 10 days.

thank you times a MILLION for the words, prayers, scriptures, and encouragement.

it's gotten me excited about the story, the battle & the butternugs.

3 words for tonight:

Rachel- excited, nervous, hopeful

Wynne - ready 2 be ruined.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T21:33:00.002-06:00

Captivated in a new way tonight by the Christmas story.

as we lit our candles at church

Jesus. as a baby. in the flesh! came to save us!

thankful that my eyes were opened even more

to the greatest gift I've ever been given.

Merry Christmas from the Elders!

no Christmas card this year. this is my favorite picture of us from 2011

doing what we LOVE

loving kids in Korah, Ethiopia!

Luke 2:10-11

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

163 million reasons.

2011-12-22T15:32:00.000-06:00

it starts with one.

{my bestie Chloe is featured on here!!!}

Visiting Orphans did 12 days of testimonies

click to read how people are being changed

here.

Wynne's Circle
oh, and if you haven't followed along my friend Jenn's story.....read on.....
http://www.pureandlasting.com/
great story of the ripple effect.

and my bestie Chloe. moving. to Uganda. in 2 weeks!
follow her journey here....
http://belovedadventurer.blogspot.com/

traditions.

2011-12-21T23:17:00.000-06:00

Christmas is full of em.
Stephen & I have made our own traditions through the years,
and yesterday we were exposed to a new kind of tradition.

One of the pastors at our church & his family had us over for lunch.
not any kind of lunch.
their kids (that we have in KidsQuest at church!- grades 6, 4 & 3)
gave up their Christmas gifts from their parents to instead GIVE to a couple that was adopting.

that couple being US!

We've never felt so loved. humbled. honored.

over a wonderful meal of chicken pot pie, we did the best we could to tell our adoption story to three precious kids. (who want to adopt a baby brother of their own - watch out!)

at the end of the meal they handed us a handwritten note and cash.
that they would have spent on their kids for Christmas.

and Frances even gave Camp his first teddy bear. her teddy bear. cuddles!

Camp is making an impact. not just on us but on others in our community and beyond.
I can't imagine this not being a part of our story.
we are beyond beyond blessed.

One of our Christmas traditions got a makeover this year....

Every year I usually make something homemade for friends & Stephen and I have a date night of looking at Christmas lights & dropping off goodies. This year, instead of making gifts we gave the gift of clean water! to the dig deep project. But we added a little candy in the boxes so we could go around & deliver! It's one of my most favorite holiday traditions.

We always end up going inside & chatting. this year we were invited in for warm pumpkin choc chip bread & milk at the Yocums, saw the inside of friends home that they've been working hard on, almost made an elf lose his magic (sorry Sommer!), watched some of the move Cars w/ Graybo, a little baby--in-the-baby-bijorn & beer at the Gaynors, interrupted a candlelit-dinner-in-their-pj's dinner at the Craines, delivered yummy pizza & wine to the neighbors, and ended the night with a doggy play date & being prayed over for my Africa trip by the Eggemeyers! Despite all my sickness & missing out - last night made up for it! I love spending time with our besties during this holiday season!
{wish I had pictures of this hilarious night}

Wynne's Circle (of friends)

{I want to start something in 2012 to expose yall to the amazing things my friends are doing. but for now, a little list!}

Jenn (the craziest story of how they are bringing home precious Alain from Rwanda & how I"M going to be there!)
http://www.pureandlasting.com/what-can-you-do-operation-love-noel/

Lauren's basket of love giveaway (for her adoption!)
http://www.laurencasper.com/2011/12/05/giant-giveaway-baskets-of-love-baby-its-cold-outside-2/

a fresh perspective.

2011-12-21T00:38:00.002-06:00

I've done it.
gone and gotten comfortable again.

in efforts to not be stressed by Christmas - I've failed.
I'm leaving for Africa the day. after. Christmas
I've been home sick the past 7 days
(with a trip to Waco in between, which most of the time I was at my parents house snuggled up in my pjs)
missed almost every christmas party.
and just feeling yuck.

too much hgtv & to do lists has gotten me away from the Word
and not to mention the sickness
sleeping a lot of each day (in hopes that I'm 100% on my trip)
the enemy has gotten me down! but I won't stand for it!

I'm ready for Africa
I'm ready for 2012 to start with a fresh perspective
I can't think of a better place to get a new perspective than Africa

I'm ready for my faith to be tested
to give out more love & hugs and Jesus than I ever have before
to be stretched: mentally, physically, emotionally & spiritually

Africa is the place where I feel I truly am alive.
and I'm ready for it.

would you pray for me?
that my health would be good & I would feel 100% myself
that I could enjoy the last few days of the Christmas season with my hubby & his family
that I would get into the WORD of God
and be as prepared as I can for another 12 days in Africa?

I promise to write.
merry Christmas to all!

what I've been reading.

2011-12-19T13:15:00.000-06:00

Book Review 2011 :)

Choosing to See

I started this book in Rwanda one night & couldn’t put it down. I was so surprised at how much I related to Mary Beth. High expectations for self & others, perfectionist personality, always trying to be “good enough”, desire to be well liked by everyone, planner, avoided conflict, felt unworthy of Gods love, guilt & shame carried around from teenage years – these are all things I have in common with Mary Beth. I know if we ever met (yes, Brynn we should take a trip to Nash!) we could talk for hours over coffee about what Jesus has done in us despite our pasts.

Something that really hit me was she said “back then my relationship with God was fear and performace driven. But now I was longing for an authentic closeness with Jesus. I would find out much later that what I was hungry for was grace.”

WOW!

I feel the same way. I don’t think I realized how starved I was for Gods grace until this fall. It’s the same message: desperate for grace, being motivated by the gospel and grace and not fear/guilt/law. I am desperate for His grace in my life! And I want to give it out more too.

Besides the revelations I gained from MB, I laughed with her in her stories of adoption, being all too familiar. Having just have been with the Honeggers as they picked up Jack, having the transformation that occurs through adoption on my mind. Looking forward to the day that I can SEE, really see that I was an orphan. That God adopted me when I had no name, no hope, no future, when I didn’t deserve his love and now I am a daughter of the king! I love hearing that from adoptive parents.

I can’t imagine the shear fear & terror that occurred the day they lost Maria. Listing and reading along with their story, I could almost see everything play out in my mind. The way their family clung to Jesus, and to each other is a true picture of how we are supposed to live as a family on earth. Being desperate for God and his word. I will continue to pray for the Chapman family, knowing and believing that God can work through their tragedy. They will “do hard” they will have faith & chose to see!

I really encourage you to read this book – a journey of struggle & hope!

Interrupted

I’ve been reading this book for a while. It’s not the kind of book I can just read straight through. In fact, I’ll probably flip back to my highlights again & again. It’s not just a book about “how to live missionally” it’s the story of how one Austin family did just that. It’s full of their own personal stories and expierences. It’s also full of biblical truths. I walked away knowing a lot more about church planting than I’ve ever known. They define living on mission as intentionally living the gospel wherever you are. But reading this book & starting to pray about living missionally has already started to transform my thinking. I haven’t even begun to process it all. I convinced my friend Jenna to read it with me, and she texted me one day & said “I just read part of Inturuppoed and I feel like I literally can’t breathe”. It’s that kind of story. Powerful. Read it. Live it. Let’s talk about it. I long to live move & breathe for Jesus the way this family & the church strives to do. Seriously, read it & let’s chat.

Start something that Matters

I’m surprised the pages of this book aren’t smeared. I started this book on the way to Africa, thanks to my mentor, Becca and cried through the first few chapters. The full story of how TOMs came to be is beautiful & if you don’t know it – read this book! Blake really got me to think about what it is I would do if I didn’t have to worry about the $. For me that is telling stories, and telling them well. I want to live a powerful story and know that if I am willing, God can use me. There are a lot of very practical tips about how you can actually start something. I think so many times we don’t do anything because we are so paralyzed with fear of where to start. Not knowing what to do, we do nothing. This is a book I’ll go back to over & over as I start to uncover what God might be prompting us to “start”.

Heaven is For Real

I read this book in 1 day at the lake right after I got home from Africa. It was a great book. Really uplifting, inspirational, and “feel good”. It made me think of heaven in a new light. It reminded me that Jesus tells us so many times to be “like little children”. I’m reading another book right now called “The Praying Life” and the first few chapters have been about how we should pray like little children.Beliving big, asking big, knowing God will hear us. That’s how the sweet boy was – believing big. Praying and talking to people so they know Jesus. His faith is very child-like, just like ours should be. I pray I can have the same sort of enthusiasm for telling people about Jesus as Colby does. Highly recommend this book!

What about you, what have you been reading?!

next for me: one thousand gifts & there is no me without you!

last day for Noonday.

2011-12-17T12:37:00.000-06:00

today is the last day to order from Noonday Collection

if you want a gift in time for the holidays!

the women in my family opened Noonday last night....

Order from my site

by midnight tonight & have in time for Christmas!

People have asked....

if you order from my site {http://wynneelder.noondaycollection.com/}

& put me (Wynne Elder) as your ambassador

I get the commission credit!

which goes to our adoption savings account....

to bring Camp home!

So you aren't only buying cute accessories

and helping women & men artisans all over the world create a pathway out of poverty

but you are also helping put an orphan in his forever home!

Thank you for shopping Noonday!

{I'm starting to book Noonday shows for the spring, contact me for details: wynne.elder@gmail.com}

praying her home.

2011-12-17T12:06:00.000-06:00

last time.
I am just amazed & in awe of how the Lord has used people to spread my dear friends, the Knights, adoption story this week

through Baron Batch's "Operation Random Christmas Blessing"
Give1Save1 blog
their video of meeting Emme for the first time
twitter
facebook

but it was ALL god. we let him do His thing. and he did.

my parents gave a donation to the Knights as a Christmas gift to me.
YES
love it when people really know what I would want for Christmas ;)
to see orphans be orphans no more!

I just had to brag on Jenna one more time.

My mom, understandably, gets my friends confused.
Jenna? I don't think I know her.

me- "mom, I go to her house like 3 times a week" "she's my adoption bestie!"
mom- "oh"

Jenna & I became fast friends.
sisters.
partner in crime.

we both have a heart for the orphan, the poor, the lonely, and to see the gospel reach them.

living out the gospel is not easy. one day Jenna coined the term, "the gospel is hard & it makes you want to cry"

yes, my friend.

but I'm thankful for a friend like Jenna.
we can stop mid sentence and pray for each other.

I can go to her house at 11pm bawling crying & we can sit in Emmes room & dream of our Ethiopian children together

in the midst of baby shower after baby shower she can come over & give me this precious necklace and speak truth into my life (that makes me cry!) that I AM expecting and it's in GODS timing

we can be 100% honest with each other
we confess our wretched sinfulness to each other
we keep each other accountable

I have some pretty amazing friends in my life & this girl is one of them.
without adoption or Ethiopia, we might never had met.

I love you Jenna (and Phillip, Parker & Beckham...and EMME!) Knight.
Did you know they were submitted to embassy?!?!?!?
Your prayers are working.
Keep praying this precious girl home!!!!!!
I can't believe there is a chance we'll be in Ethiopia at the same time.

I'm praying God continues to get ALL the glory from your story
from yall living out the gospel

I'm proud to call you friends.

ps- you can still go follow @baronbatch & give $1 (or more!) to give1save1 through Sunday!

happenings.

2011-12-16T00:11:00.002-06:00

Too much has been going on to not keep a quick report!

Here's the past month or so in review......

Went to National Adoption Day at Midland Court House

excited to be a part of this through my work with the Heart Gallery

Then I went to the International Food Fair at Midland College

to meet an international student to interview for my Perspectives class!

I met Saye (from Mali, West Africa) and ate an ANT! a roasted one from Colombia.

apparently it was my into into the international club...

Thanksgiving in Waco with my family!

lots of cooking, playing with the dogs, and eating!

and then a Noonday show the day after with some of our fave Waco moms & daughters!

then to Dallas for the Tech/Baylor game at Jerry World with the fam!!

Then back to Midland for our annual Christmas Tree fun!

pepermint hot chocolate (this time coffee..), christmas music & picking out the tree!

then another Noonday show at Alisons!

Sip, Shop & Don't shower. fun morning with the girls!

A really fun night celebrating my befri, Alison & baby girl Z!

dinner with the girls & lots of presents

{ps - totally made that banner thanks to pintrest!}

Another really fun baby shower for another one of my fave gals, Jenna!

this time it was for their little girl in Ethiopia! adoption shower!

{sweets table...pinterest!}

Midland's first snow day!!!

dogs loved playing in the snow - we loved chilling all day by the tree & the fire!

Another Noonday show in San Angelo, visit with the grandparents then off to spend the night at the lake... then off to Austin for lunch with Elizabeth & Rose and a stop by Jessica's to check on them & Jack {after my Rwandan adventure with them!} and see the Noonday elves at work!

Then it was time to spend with Chloe!!

Her Zion Project event {where we got to see some other Africa friends & Melinda, my first mentor!!} followed by celebrating her 21st bday with a drink at East Side Show Room....and a slumber party. and chick fil a. and coffee. and saying "see you later" as she's about to move to Uganda!!!!

Back to Midland for the first ever Midland Help Portrait.

an amazing day taking portraits alongside several other Midland photogs & volunteers.

a day full of stories. I'll never be the same! an amazing opportunity.

Then the most historic event....

ROBERT GRIFFIN III WON BAYLOR THE HEISMAN!

never been more proud.

I wore my gold tights.

Thank's for catching up with me!

unexpected blessings.

2011-12-15T19:21:00.001-06:00

wow.
that's all I can say.

Yesterday was an amazing day - great "meetings" with friends in town to discuss amazing kingdom opportunities.

not to mention my good friend Jenna's adoption story going viral thanks to Give1Save1 and Baron Batch committing to give .25 cents for every new follower this week on twitter (@barronbatch)

then I started feeling sick......

this happens to me once a year at least.
I run myself down. go go go. and then it catches up with me & I get sick.

so since yesterday afternoon around 4pm - I've been layed up in bed/on the couch sleeping.
{and feeling sorry for myself for missing some really fun Christmas parties}

for the past few weeks I've gone on and on about our africa trip on facebook/twitter/blog trying to get people to donate items & cash to the orphans of Rwanda & Ethiopia.

Notice what I just said......I was trying to do it.

and until today when I was SLEEPING God did the work.
turns out maybe he didn't need my help. haha

throughout the coarse of today - while sleeping - friends (some I have seriously NEVER met in real life yet) left collectively over $1,000 for my mission trip!!!!!!!

seriously?!

along with bags of medical supplies & sheets for the orphans in Rwanda & Ethiopia.

My friend Jenna said it best while texting back & forth about Gods faithfulness...

Aren't random surprises the best?

It's like a little kiss from the Lord!!

HE is really good at romancing his children!"

Amen Jenna.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Praising our Father. Reminded once again of his faithfulness. we are his children. he delights to give us the desires of our hearts. the desire of my heart is for these precious orphans in ethiopia & rwanda to know His love. and they are HIS children too. of coarse he wants to overwhelm us with his love for us.

thank you for sending me. if I learned anything in my Perspectices class this year is that the senders are just as important as the goers! neither group can do it without the other! may you be blessed in your obedience to the Lord.

May HE get the glory!!!!!!!!!!!

africa. 12 days. need your help!

2011-12-14T10:34:00.002-06:00

I can't believe I leave for Africa in 12 days!

I can't believe that in less than 2 weeks...I'll be back doing this!

the things I love to do most in the world. ahh....happiness!

#dudeperfect

Ok back to this trip......

This trip is a little different donation wise -

we were each asked to bring:

1 new backpack

1 new deflated soccer ball

1 new set of twin sheets

$200 cash

I've been gathering these goods for me & hopefully some for the others from our church who are going.

and hoping to bring extra sheets!

{so far I have 3 backpacks, 5 sets of sheets & 12 soccer balls}

would love a few more backpacks & maybe a few more sheet sets?

and/or...........

My good friend Emily, who is a nurse in Korah with Project 61 recently posted a few supplies they need:

iron pills,

small individual bottles of charcoal shampoo,

stool softener pills,

small bottles of face wash (like cetaphil),

and anti-emetics.

I have 15 more pounds I can put in my 1 bag :)

so I'll take as many more donations as I can with 15 pounds!!!!

{and hopefully be able to take more with some of my Midland teammates}

{pretty good - packed a lot of my clothes in my backpack!}

SO.....

If you want to contribute feel free to buy any thing on this list or if you would like to send cash to be able to bless some families & ministries while we are there I'll be taking $ to do that too!

email me:

wynne.elder@gmail.com

or if you are in Midland feel free to just drop it off on the porch!

thank you for BLESSING those in Ethiopia & Rwanda!

adoption questions answered.

2011-12-13T16:05:00.002-06:00

{So I wrote this late summer & just found it! Sort of goes with what we are talking about so I thought I'd post!!!}

I've gotten the chance recently to re tell our adoption story to friends in person. It's always fun to tell people in person what God has done and I feel like there are questions people ask that sometimes aren't addressed on the blog. So I thought I'd answer a few questions that people ask to give you a better idea of what God has done in our lives & hearts this past year.

So, you weren't one of those people who "always wanted to adopt?"

Nope, not at all. When my friend Katie said "have you ever thought about adoption" I sort of gave her a look of confusion & disgust honestly. No, I hadn't thought of it. See, I believed the lie that adoption was only for people who "always knew" they would adopt. It wasn't for regular people like me, no way! Friends - don't believe that adoption is only for "those people" but know that if God chooses to put it on your heart He is calling YOU to it too possibly. Our prayer though this process is that people will see us (their friends) and have a better idea of the process & know that if we can do it, so can they!

You can't have your own kids, is that why you are adopting?

Well, we don't know if we can't. Honestly, God changed my heart overnight in August of 2009 and told me I was ready to be a mom - we then talked about it/prayed about it and decided that if it was God's will we would get pregnant, but if not then we were ok with that too for the time being. Well anyone who's tried to get pregnant knows that you can only go a few months with being ok with not getting pregnant then (for me at least) you try to control it and make it happen. At one point I had 25 friends in Midland alone that were pregnant. It was a really hard time in my life - every month that aunt flow came to visit I had at least 1 good friend call me on that day to tell me she was pregnant. That was tough. Something I wanted so bad, something I felt God put on my heart - to be a mom, wasn't happening. When my friend Katie asked why we didn't have kids I told her a quick run down of that story. My good friends knew the story, they knew we were trying to get pregnant, they knew it was hard for me but the story in general wasn't public knowledge. It's a very emotional thing and an emotional time.

So.....how did you decide to adopt?

Two summers ago (2010) I was so busy with my job at Opportunity Camp that I told God I had to just give it all up to Him (finally!) and sort of "take a break" for the summer. It was too much to think about and my heart and mind did not need to be distracted for the summer. I wanted to focus on camp, the kids, my job and I would worry about trying to get preg later. Well, the day we got back from the 2nd week of Camp I was supposed to go to my doctor to continue to talk about infertility treatments & start going down that road. But God intervened before I could go! My doctor had to cancel the appt, then I couldn't reschedule because we were going on family vacation. Looking back it was such a God thing. We were on the verge of starting fertility treatments, but God put adoption in our path. He changed my heart. So, long story short - I can't say we are infertile. We haven't gone down that road far enough to say that we can't ever have biological kids. We still hope that we will, but we know that God has a plan and we are done with trying to plan it all out. He's in control!

So He put adoption on your heart, then what?

Well, I started praying about it and honestly it was all I could think about for a while. It was amazing what God put in our path. my friend Brynn said best when she said it just started "following us around"

went to Stephen's best friends wedding & the ring bearer was from Ethiopia {never met anyone from ethiopia before}. His mom & I became friends (she is a photog too!) and she was the first one to tell me about the adoption process. She told me all about the different requirements that each country has, and told me about several adoption agencies.
also at the wedding we reconnected with friends who just got back from living in Africa (they were in peace core), we also met a girl who grew up in china where her parents ran a christian orphanage {so many people with heart for adoption/africa}
after the wedding on the way to family vaca, I looked up Gladney on my phone. read all about all the countries & their requirements.
remembered a post from a photog from San Antonio's blog that said they were adopting from Ethiopia & then went to her adoption blog and read every. single. post. ordered books she reccomended from my phone (thanks amazon!) - Jenn is now one of my great friends!
remembered my good friend from high school, Alison, talked about on her facebook starting process to adopt from Ethiopia....contacted her
got back from trip & went straight to bachelorette party for my good friend Jordan and sat across the table from her soon to be sister in law, Meme, who told me that she sold jewelry on the side to raise $ for the team she leads to China every year with Visiting Orphans because she wants to adopt from China one day (tears!)
lots of contact with above people about adoption!
read on facebook that my fave humanitarian photographer, Esther Havens, was speaking at a conference in Austin (Together for Adoption!) about how to tell a story - decided I wanted to go. Found out later it was an adoption conference! Was telling my good friend, Alison Brown, about it at lunch one day & she told me that her family was looking to adopt & her mom was going to the conference. Her mom happened to be my boss' sister in law. I called her immediately. We met up in Austin in October to go to conference together. (Holly is now one of my great friends & mentors and they are waiting to get matched with a baby/or two from Uganda!)
Stephen came to conference the 2nd day - god laid it on his heart through the Holy Spirit after the prayed about it, he was in. we started research! October 17th we sent in our first paperwork! whew!

So, Stephen was or wasn't on board that whole time?

please read this post.....

So what does the bible say about adoption?

again read this post....

Do you still get upset when friends get pregnant? What is yalls plan for that?

Honestly, we don't have a plan. Trying to adopt & trying to get pregnant are BOTH such huge things. They are both so emotional that trying to do both at the same time is just not a good idea for us. So, we don't really have a plan. Yes, we still have hope that we'll have biological kids (because all of our kids will be "our own kids") but if God chooses only to grow our family through adoption we are becoming content with that too. and I LOVE when my friends get pregnant. Sometimes it's hard because that might be an experience that I'll never have, and as a woman that is a little tough. But I know that God has a beautiful plan for us and our family and that has nothing to do with his beautiful plan for my friends & their families. I am overjoyed when new life is upon my friends! It's really hard because I know those friends want to be sensitive to me & my feelings (which I fully appreciate) but I also don't want them to not want to tell me or feel bad telling me because of what I've been through. That is really tough spot for them and me & I don't know how to change that. It's just life!

Ok, I'm getting out of control here. I have so many others but I will save those for round 2. If you have questions - please comment or email me @ wynne.elder@gmail.com

This is pretty cool.....

Adoption Journey!

a new site for people wanting to know more about adoption! It has all sorts of good info & then "others on the journey" - so you can go read about other people's stories! This is what our page looks like:

You can find it here: http://the-elder-family.adoptionjourney.com/

ps - have you visted the Knights Give1Save1 campaign?

do so here:

http://give1save1.com/2011/12/12/new-week-new-family-8/

give1save1 - the Knights!

2011-12-12T12:20:00.000-06:00

Many of you have heard me talk about my good adoption momma friend in Midland, Jenna.

(her blog: http://hisperfectworks.blogspot.com/)

Her and her husband, Phillip & two precious boys (whom I love to go over to their house just to snuggle with them!) Beckham & Parker, are adopting a precious 3 (ish) year old girl name Emme from Ethiopia!

They have already gone to meet her & are waiting for their embassy date so they can pick her up and bring her home (exactly what we will be doing with Camp!).

My other adoptive momma/bloggy friend from Houston, Beth, had an idea & a vision and the Give1Save1 campaign was launched. In her words,

Give 1::: Every monday I’m going to ask you for a dollar. I’m going to tell you who it’s going to and what it’s being used for. We’re mostly funding African adoption for the people, by the people. We’re just going to rain down a crazy blessing on a family, organization, orphanage, or project and we’re going to do it every week. We’re going to get huge. And the world will be changed for lots of people because of your generosity. That sounds exciting, doesn’t it?! Let’s do it.

Save 1::::And your dollar will be saving and restoring lives in all kinds of ways. In Ethiopia one in six children don’t live to be five years old. There is a desperate need for basic food, clean water, and medicine. Removing a child from an orphanage gives that child a family and a future, something everyone needs. It also frees up a bed in an orphanage for another orphan. Your dollar will change lives and save lives in ways you may never know.

Everyone has a dollar, right? Her idea was that one person can't give $30,000 but everyone can give $1! Every week she features a different family & guess who's going to be on in January....the Elders!

So join in, follow the blog, subscribe by email (like me) so you don't forget a family. Go on, watch their video (I made this one for Jenna!), check out their blog, pray for them, love them.

Let this be something you & your family do for adoptive families - even ones you don't know. Believe me, it has eternal significance! Do it as a family. Tell your kids about it. Get them in on the praying & giving! Even if it's just $1!!!!

Jenna is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. If it weren't for her I don't know if I would have gotten through this past year, much less everything that is coming in the future. She has given blessing upon blessing to me & now it's my turn to bless her! I need your help - let's do this!!!!!!

Go ahead.....give them some love!!!!

Go here!!!!

5.

2011-12-11T19:26:00.001-06:00

5 months.

since our paperwork got to Ethiopia.

5 months of waiting on our precious Camp.

We digress from our traditional Camp t-shirt pic from today because, well, you don't want to see me today.

feeling under the weather all day in my pj's

Crazy that we've been out of the state or country every other month until today.

1- Ethiopia

2- Lake City, Colorado

3- Rwanda (me at least!)

4- Cayman

5- sick at home in Midland

Nevertheless.....

we wait.

will you pray?

it hasn't been any easy few days waiting.....

parenthood.

2011-12-08T00:56:00.001-06:00

Parenthood.

Because of my good friend, Brynn, I am now a little bit addicted to this show.

The $43.17 iTunes bill last month proves it (Sorry hunny)

I love Lauren Graham.

I love that it’s a show about family.

Families are dysfunctional & sometimes just seeing another family not be “perfect” gives me peace {is that bad?}

And I really miss Brothers & Sisters so this is my new family drama :)

I cry in almost every episode.

It always brings it back to family in the end & just like Modern family usually does, I shed a few tears at the end.

However, the end of season 1 proved to be a real tearjerker.

I don’t even remember what happened at the end now but what I realized at 2 am that Tuesday night was the real reason behind the tears.

I so desperately want a family.

Watching a show about family only intensifies my longing to have one of my own.

God is faithful and His timing is perfect.

This I know.

If things had happened according to “my plan” we would not be on the path we are on.

For that I am grateful.

But sometimes it still really hurts.

I don’t think I’m alone on this.

How do you deal?

visiting orphans, part 2.

2011-12-06T17:11:00.001-06:00

I posted HERE about what we do on Visiting Orphans trips....

here is part 2.

This is another ministry we will be working with again on my New Years trip, Project 61.

I'm sure you've heard me talk about this ;)

One of the things we did in Korah this summer was a VBS! Since the kids were all home for the summer from boarding school, Project 61 & Great Hope Church serve them a hot lunch every day & do VBS/church camp like activities during the week.

We got the opportunity to lead this one day & it was a blast. While a lot of the team was working on Extreme Home Makeover (more on that soon!) the rest of the team planned & then the next day led the kids in worship, teaching & crafts!

the fabulous Jeff Slaughter led us in worship

the best part was watching the big guys dance :)

We made crowns after Chloe talked about how we are sons & daughters of the King!

Mitch's daughters pre-school made bracelets for all the kids & we had the pleasure to pass them out to the kids! They LOVED them!

the most important thing we do, as always, is just love these kids!

spending time with them & sharing Jesus love!

{so sweet!}

Every day we got to serve the kiddos lunch & sometimes eat with them :)

You should go love on some orphans too.

interested?

check out Visiting Orphans :)

clean water for Christmas.

2011-12-05T09:23:00.001-06:00

I posted images from a portion of our trip in Ethiopia this summer with Visiting Orphans (here), but never really talked about it.

Remember when we went to Branson ?

Well it was for this DIG DEEP project fundraiser!

Our good friends, Rob & Julie Neal, have an amazing story.

I got to hear it from Rob this summer & when we were in Springfield, I got to hear more of it.

Their youngest, Cruz, remember my boyfriend?

Well he's from a very remote village in Ethiopia called Chuko.

a village that doesn't have access to clean drinking water.

Julie, his mom, felt a nudge to go to Ethiopia on a trip with no reason to why.

but she & a few friends went and they ended up in Chuko with A Glimmer of Hope

{an awesome Austin based organization that does work in Ethiopia}

and this is what what happened after meeting Cruz's grandmother....

"Seeing the journey these beautiful people make each day to lug 40+ pounds of water through the muddy trails and treacherous, slick, rocky slopes with no shoes, and yet still with smiling faces, brings new meaning to the word “heartbreaking.” And the real heartbreak is that the water they find is unknowingly infested with leech larvae and other parasites; and by the time they exhibit the symptoms of the diseases, it’s too late to save them. 80% of deaths in that area are due to water-borne illnesses.

So that night while Julie was sleeping under the mosquito net with no electricity and complete darkness, God called us, beyond a shadow of a doubt, to bring clean water to the people of Chuko (Cruz’s village). Not only clean water, but when it was done, to dedicate it to the honor of Cruz’s birth mother. So hopefully, in some way, it would bring some meaning to the devastating loss experienced by Cruz’s precious grandmother. We were determined to help make a difference.

What does this mean for our family? After initial testing was completed by the Glimmer team, it was determined that a deep borehole well would be needed to supply over 2,500 members of the Chuko village with clean water. After the shock wore off of the significance of the fundraising project (the cost of this deep borehole was more than double what we had expected), we realized it was not just OUR project--it was God's, and that $193,000 is no more difficult for Him than $50,000. And as a family, it’s been indescribable to see our three older children get a hold of this and turn their focus from themselves and onto this cause and the potential it has to literally save the lives of those living in their brother’s home village. "

ps- when I was in Springfield, it was the girls birthday & they asked instead of presents for people to donate to the well project! They are 14. WOW!

While we were on our Man Up trip this summer, we got to visit.

We actually left Addis to make the 7 hour trek to Chuko the morning after our time at the trash dump.

So imagine we went from the image on the left, to the one on the right.

destitution to beauty.

Chuko really was the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Pictures don't do it justice. it was clean, it smelled wonderful and was so pure.

We knew we were going to visit the village Rob's son was from, so we affectionately named this "Rob's day" and shouted on numerous occasions, "we love Rob's day!"

{well, not really on the 7 hour drive in which numerous people got sick & Amanda and I had to potty so bad that we went on the side of the road and I apparently showed everyone a "full moon"...good thing we are family!}

Besides knowing a little bit about the Neal's story and knowing that a team of 5 high school students and their teacher, April, started their own campaign off of Dig Deep called "Pirates dig a well" Check out their fundraising site here.....we didn't know much about what this day entailed.

{Josh, Alyssa, Caleb & Rob Neal, April, Anna & Amellia}

These HIGH SCHOOL students have raised to date over $24,000 for this project.

I was blown away.

Michael Gibson (son of our leader, Roger and Mama Kiki) leads this team fearlessly.

His life has been changed by the work they've done.

The silent auction we went to Branson for was put on by this group.

Raised over $5,000

Anything is possible my friends! You don't have to be a grown up to put your gifts & passions to use for the Kingdom!

Back to our day in Chuko.

It was one of the best on our trip.

We traveled by 4 wheel drive into the bush to be greeted by the village singing, dancing, clapping & welcoming us.

I've never been so blown away.

Rob was like the king.

They were so thankful that we want to bring them clean water.

I remember a teammate of mine, Jason, said it well when he said "now I feel a sense of responsibility & urgency to help these people. They expect it from us!"

We went to the site where they get their water. their dirty water.

just thinking about eliminating this problem for them is overwhelmingly exciting.

Why am I telling you about this now?

Well as the Christmas season approaches and we are all buying buying buying, consider doing something different this year. This is what Julie has to say.....

"So as the Christmas season approaches, we invite you all to join with us as we “Dig Deep” in order to change the lives of those who cannot enjoy something we take for granted every day. Clean Water. . .what a concept. Be creative. Go a little crazy. Think about donating in someone else’s name in lieu of a traditional gift. It’s exciting to think of all the possibilities, but more than that, it’s going to be incredible to know that we’ve been able to play a part in reaching “the least of these.”

So....head over to their fundraising site & help bring clean water to these beautiful people of Chuko!

http://www.aglimmerofhope.org/campaign/dig-deep

If you want to join us in becoming a part of this project this Christmas & give a gift of clean water in honor of a friend or family member visit the website above!

visiting orphans, part 1.

2011-12-04T11:53:00.001-06:00

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this:to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

James 1:27

Sometimes people ask me what we DO when we go to Africa with Visiting Orphans.

Well, our day at Kidane Orphanage in Ethiopia is a perfect example.

We play games, we paint nails, we jump rope, we blow bubbles, we speak life, we shower them with stickers, we encourage, most importantly -we love.

We basically be kids with them.

have fun.

laugh.

play.

make them feel, even for one day that they have a family.

people who love them.

We are going to this specific orphanage in Ethiopia again in January - I can't wait to find this friend and give her a big hug!

You should go love on some orphans too.

interested?

check out Visiting Orphans :)

the village. supporting adoptive families.

2011-11-30T17:06:00.002-06:00

we have been so blessed on our adoption journey to have friends, family members, our church, and friends far away be "the village" for us. supporting us, loving us, encouraging us.

but sometimes it's hard to be the village.

you don't know what to do, or what to say (or not to say!)

especially if none of your friends have ever adopted before.

it's also hard to be the adoptive family.

we struggle. we hurt. we cry when you aren't looking. we want you to ask, we don't want you to ask. it's just the way it is.

Recognizing someone's hurt & being there for them even if you don't know what to say is what I've learned is best. rather than not saying anything.

I hope this doesn't come off the wrong way. I just have people that ask & wanted to help educate people on how to be there for their friends & family members that are adopting. enjoy!

Ok, back on topic. Jen Hatmaker, amazing Christian author/pastors wife/adoptive momma/blogger wrote an amazing post on How to be the Village (click) but I thought I'd highlight a few things for where we are in the process (before the airport) for those who are wondering how to be part of our families adoption process!

Supporting Families Before the Airport

Your friends are adopting. They’re in the middle of dossiers and home studies, and most of them are somewhere in the middle of Waiting Purgatory. Please let me explain something about WP: It sucks in every way. Oh sure, we try to make it sound better than it feels by using phrases like “We’re trusting in God’s plan” and “God is refining me” and “Sovereignty trumps my feelings” and crazy bidness like that. But we are crying and aching and getting angry and going bonkers when you’re not watching. It’s hard. It hurts. It feels like an eternity even though you can see that it is not. It is harder for us to see that, because many of us have pictures on our refrigerators of these beautiful darlings stuck in an orphanage somewhere while we’re bogged down in bureaucracy and delays.

How can you help? By not saying or doing these things:

1. “God’s timing is perfect!” (Could also insert: “This is all God’s plan!” “God is in charge!”) As exactly true as this may be, when you say it to a waiting parent, we want to scratch your eyebrows off and make you eat them with a spoon. Any trite answer that minimizes the struggle is as welcomed as a sack of dirty diapers. You are voicing something we probably already believe while not acknowledging that we are hurting and that somewhere a child is going to bed without a mother again. Please never say this again. Thank you.

2. “Are you going to have your own kids?” (Also in this category: “You’ll probably get pregnant the minute your adoption clears!” “Since this is so hard, why don’t you just try to have your own kids?” “Well, at least you have your own kids.”) The subtle message here is: You can always have legitimate biological kids if this thing tanks. It places adoption in the Back-up Plan Category,where it does not belong for us. When we flew to Ethiopia with our first travel group from our agency, out of 8 couples, we were the only parents with biological kids. The other 7 couples chose adoption first. Several of them were on birth control. Adoption counts as real parenting, and if you believe stuff Jesus said, it might even be closer to the heart of God than regular old procreation. (Not to mention the couples that grieved through infertility already. So when you say, “Are you going to have your own kids?” to a woman who tried for eight years, then don’t be surprised if she pulls your beating heart out like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.)

5. Saying nothing is the opposite bad. I realize with blogs like this one, you can get skittish on how to talk to a crazed adopting Mama without getting under her paper-thin skin or inadvertently offending her. I get it. (We try hard not to act so hypersensitive. Just imagine that we are paper-pregnant with similar hormones surging through our bodies making us cry at Subaru commercials just like the 7-month preggo sitting next to us.And look at all this weight we’ve gained. See?) But acting like we’re not adopting or struggling or waiting or hoping or grieving is not helpful either. If I was pregnant with a baby in my belly, and no one ever asked how I was feeling or how much longer or is his nursery ready or can we plan a shower, I would have to audition new friend candidates immediately.

Here’s what we would love to hear Before the Airport:

1. Just kind, normal words of encouragement. Not the kind that assume we are one breath away from atheism. Not the kind that attempt to minimize the difficulties and tidy it all up with catchphrases. We don’t actually need for you to fix our wait. We just want you to be our friend and acknowledge that the process is hard and you care about us while we’re hurting. That is GOLD. I was once having lunch with my friend Lynde when AWAA called with more bad news about Ben’s case, and I laid my head down on the table in the middle of Galaxy Café and bawled. Having no idea what to do with such a hot mess, she just cried with me. Thank you for being perfect that day, Lynde.

2. Your questions are welcomed! We don’t mind telling you about the court system in Ethiopia or the in-country requirements in Nicaragua or the rules of the foster system. We’re glad to talk about adoption, and we’re thankful you care. I assure you we didn’t enter adoption lightly, so sharing details of this HUGE PIECE OF OUR LIVES is cathartic. Plus, we want you to know more because we’re all secretly hoping you’ll adopt later. (This is not true.) (Yes it is.)

3. When you say you’repraying for us and our waiting children, and you actually really are, not only does that soothe our troubled souls, but according to Scripture, it activates the heavens. So pray on, dear friends. Pray on. That is always the right thing to say. And please actually do it. We need people to stand in the gap for us when we are too tired and discouraged to keep praying the same words another day.

4. If you can, please become telepathic to determine which days we want to talk about adoption and which days we’d rather you just show up on our doorstep with fresh figs from the Farmer’s Market (thanks, Katie) or kidnap us away in the middle of the day to go see Bridesmaids. Sometimes we need you to make us laugh and remember what it feels like to be carefree for a few hours. If you’re not sure which day we’re having, just pre-buy movie tickets and show up with the figs, and when we answer the door, hold them all up and ask, “Would you like to talk for an hour uninterrupted about waiting for a court date?” We’ll respond to whichever one fits.

147

2011-11-29T18:21:00.000-06:00

Another perk of Together for Adoption was I got to catch up with my 147 friends, Gwen&Suzanne.

{super excited to see them at Created for Care too!}

I met these 2 besties last year at the conference and have been following their blogs for a while now. And this summer I even got the opportunity to visit Amazima, which is one of the ministries they support through Katie Davis. If you don't read her blog, you better head overthere now.

147 sells bags, tshirts, hats, necklaces, etc to raise money to help feed, clothe & give medical attention to the 147 million orphans around the world. Purchasing a shirt feeds an orphan for a week & the bags feed an orphan for a month! I have been a long time supporter of 147 & even gave 147 gear to all the women in my family last year for Christmas!

Well, they LOVE Noonday & so we made a little trade ;) I now have 7 Mayvall bags to sell to help raise money for our adoption! It fed an orphan for a month AND willhelp us bring Camp home! If you are looking for a good Christmas gift....look no further! They are $74.95 and I have 7 of them left to sell! Let me know if you are interested!

If you head over to the 147 site, you can check out their awesome tee's and merch! They are also selling Katie Davis book. If you haven't read it yet, I would highly recommend it! I read it in about 3 days.

created for care.

2011-11-28T22:28:00.002-06:00

I'm in!

I am SO excited that I get to opportunity to attend the

Created for Care

retreat in January!!!

It's a retreat for adoptive mommas.

"created for moms who share the spirit of adoption

seriously?

I am so so so excited.

I have been on the wait list for so long.

and I'm in!

Excited that Noonday will be there (and my older sis Jessica!), bloggy friend Lauren, the 147 gals & other people I blog stalk but don't know yet, including emily & emily, kristi and I'm sure many more!

Are you going?

gifts that give back.

2011-11-25T16:40:00.002-06:00

I'm a little obsessed with Pinterest.

I used it this year to pin some really great Christmas gifts

that not only are beautiful, nice gifts

but gifts that GIVE BACK

they help women, vulnerable children, and communities all over the world

so...so ahead and check it out!

ps- did you know you can make a WISHLIST on my Noonday site?

yes, ladies. this is a great idea ;)

http://www.wynneelder.noondaycollection.com/

thankful.

2011-11-24T22:02:00.003-06:00

thankful.

I'm thankful.

thankful to be thankful.

thankful to have a warm bed, a hot shower, a good meal, and most importantly family around me that loves me unconditionally.

thankful that God has broken my heart

for what breaks His

thankful that I can appreciate all that I have

more than ever

most thankful for my relationship with Jesus

and what He did on the cross for me

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

be present.

2011-11-23T18:50:00.001-06:00

While I was in Africa, Stephen got the chance to go to Catalyst conference in Atlanta.

because he's amazing & wanted me to be part of what he heard & learned, he purchased the "expierence" kit and while we were in Caymans, I listened to a different podcast every day after lunch during my afternoon nap

I just finished listening to Andy Stanleys message.

while sitting here.....yes.....

I am feeling very convicted and also encouraged.

He started off by talking about how the more sucessful you get in ministry, the less avaliable you become. How people will start a conversation wtih you by saying, "I know you are busy but..."

and it's a true statement when it comes to leadership. I hate the "I know you are busy but..." routine.

I don't want to be "too busy" to engage in relationships.

I am a relational person.

I always have been. mostly been a "floater" of sorts. friends with all sorts of people and never was friends wtih just one group. in college I remember going to parties a lone a lot of the time because I wanted to hop around & talk to everyone. I can be independent like that.

so when things get busy & I feel myself being torn in various directions, I can spread myself pretty thin.

I want to say yes to every coffee date, lunch date, weekend get a way, conference, etc etc.

I have been known to have FOMO (fear of missing out)

but this season in my life has been the opposite.

instead of wearing myself out more & saying yes to more and more

I actually learned to go deep with a few

leadership roles, bible studies, prayer breakfasts, weekly lunch dates, random hang outs have not been a part of my daily life this fall.

it's been tough.

I love to be around people but I felt this season being a season of alone time with Jesus.

and being out of town a lot.

and so now I get the "you are always gone"

and that's tough too.

feeling a nudge to be more present where I am - starting in my neighborhood.

but that's a whole other story.

back to Andy.

being present.

being engaged.

doesn't always mean being fair!

"doing for ONE what you wish you could do for everyone"

that was his main idea. his families motto.

and I related it to my relationships the past few months.

normally spread thin, trying to be everything to everyone, I got burned out

so I scaled back

I retreated a bit.

more time at home.

more alone time with jesus, coffee & my bible

less time at lunch with friends, starbucks, on the phone, etc

instead of being everything to everyone

I have really gotten to go DEEP with a few

it's been hard, it's been rewarding, but mostly I realized what it means to "bear each others burdens" like it says in Galatians to do.

it's meant instead of fun lunch dates...

I've had hour long cry sessions on skype

and back and forth prayer texts that last for weeks

and extended prayer times with friends on their living room floor

i've gone deep instead of wide

I actually KNOW what's going on in those 5 or 6 friends lives

I've been present. I've been engaged.

but even though it's been hard, it's been beautiful

it's given me a glimpse into doing for one (or in my case 5 or 6) what I would love to do with everyone.

chew on that!

Noonday in Uganda= life changing

2011-11-21T16:44:00.004-06:00

I know it’s been a few weeks since I returned from Uganda & Rwanda but if you haven’t picked up on it yet – I am a processor. It takes me a while to really process what I experienced and put it into words. I have to be in the “mood” or “zone” to really write about things and this past week at the beach proved to be an amazing week to write!

I know I blogged a bit while I was in Uganda about what I was experiencing. But I wanted to talk a little more about it.

Noonday has meant something totally different for me since getting back from Uganda.

I “knew” what shopping and selling Noonday products meant for these women (and men) all over the globe but just like anything else – when you actually meet them, the story gets a lot more personal. Jalia & Daniel changed my perspective. Uganda changed my perspective.

I told Jessica that I felt like all we did in Uganda was talk about Jesus, pray, and ask people if they knew Jesus. It was amazing. The atmosphere in Uganda just calls for it. You can’t help but speak of what He’s done in your life & want to hear what He’s done in others.Every time we got in a car, someone prayed for our journey. How legit is that? I always said Uganda was hard-core, but now I really know. It’s hard-core!

Jalia & Daniel.

A little backgound: Jalia grew up Muslim. She converted to Christianity late high school & was basically thrown out of her home. Once daddy’s princess, she now was living with a pastor’s family who send her to school, discipled her, and loved her. She met her husband, Daniel (a believer), in bible college. They want to be missionaries. They want to witness to the Muslim world.

{this is what I wrote in my journal after our 1^st day with them}

They believe in miracles.

They believe in healing & deliverance.

They are God fearing.

They love the name of Jesus more than their own name.

Their lives are dedicated to serving others.

They understand others because they’ve been there.

They’ve been so poor they had to sell their only bible to buy food.

They know what it’s like to be content: to be in want & to have plenty

They, like Paul, are content.

They set their minds on things above.

One night when we were visiting with Jalia, she asked us if we would pray that her children aren’t orphaned.

Really?

For all you moms out there – is that high on your prayer request list?

their daughter, Zoie.

son, Zack.

Uganda & its people have challenges that we will never face.

They live knowing that their children might be orphaned.

That fear they won’t be able to provide.

But they believe in the power of our God.

They pray. They believe that God will hear them. They ask him for big things.

They believe. They know that there is power in the name of Jesus.

I want to be more like Jalia & Daniel.

Giving my life to those around me. So they will know Jesus.

Inviting people into my home so they can see the way we live.

So they can know Jesus.

Giving and giving and giving – even when by the standards of the world, they are the ones in need.

I want to have that kind of heart.

Thank you Jesus for what you are doing through Jalia & Daniel and through Noonday Collection. I pray that you continue to empower my sweet friends to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Winning souls for you one person at a time!

grace.

2011-11-20T22:48:00.001-06:00

{one of the posts I wrote while we were in the Caymans!}

I am rocking in a hammock right now on the beach at the Caymans, watching the sunset.

it's times like these I am inspired by the beauty & majesty of my creator God

we met a couple today that is on their honeymoon.

they are staying at the same place as us and so today - we got to talking.

Bethany is just my type of friend - bubbly, outgoing, entertaining, always asking questions.

I love people who really want to get to know me because {I would like to think it's only} because I really love to get to know people.

I love hearing peoples stories.

I love the grace that comes with hearing a new friends story.

When you've known someone for so long, and you've watched their story unfold gradually through the years, you can sometimes lose sight of how powerful it is. You know where they've been and who they used to be, so sometimes it's hard to give them grace & really appreciate their story.

But when you meet a new friend, they don't know anything about your terrible past.

you can tell them your story, all the powerful things God has done in your life, and they can be in awe.

telling your story is powerful. not only to the one who you are telling but also for yourself. to remember all that God has done in and through your life. How much he's changed you, molded you, transformed you.

telling my story reminds me of Gods grace.

I once was lost, but now I'm found.

I am a daughter of the King.

not because of anything I did, but because what Jesus did.

I don't deserve the story God is writing for my life. I deserve death. That's where grace comes in.

I was looking over my notes from Together for Adoption and remembering how grace was a big theme for me.

revisiting grace. the gospel.

I think I grew up pretty legalistic and I'm still trying to break those chains.

being or doing good because of guilt & because of the law.

Instead I want to be transformed & motivated & fueled by grace.

one of the speakers said, "desperate people love grace"

did I always think I was "too good" for grace? like I didn't need it?

I want to be motivated by grace. motivated by the gospel. I want ONLY out of the overflow of my heart to love mercy, seek justice, defend the cause of the poor.

not because of the law and not because I feel like I should. just out of the overflow of what Christ has done for me!

Tullian said," gospel generates grace driven obedience. Law generates guilt driven obedience."

Grace.

What does grace mean to you?

give 2 go! win a mission trip!

2011-11-18T22:09:00.007-06:00

If you can't tell by now, I love what Visiting Orphans does.

Stephen & I went with them on our first trip to Africa this summer and

I'm going on my 2nd trip with them over the holidays!

Guess what.....

they are GIVING AWAY A MISSION TRIP!!!!!

If you've always wanted to go on a trip, but thought the funds were going to be an issue, now is your chance!

My good friend, Kari at My Crazy Adoption {Mama Kiki in Africa!} is teaming with Visiting Orphans to give away a mission trip. From Kari.......

WIN A Free Mission Trip To Simply Love Orphans!!!!!!!

It’s SIMPLE to enter … purchase the sweet looking Simply Love and/or the funky Man Up tee to win! Every purchase gives you one entry into the drawing. Buy ten tees get ten entries. Go Big & Love Big!

Anywhere

in the world

on a Visiting Orphans missions trip….

Open your hearts to Go, Be, and Love orphans!!

El Salvador, Costa Rica, Haiti, Ecuador, Honduras, China, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, India and Ukraine!

GO HERE to enter!!!!

They will announce the winner at Visiting Orphans 2nd annual Give2Go event in Nashville! If you live in Nashville or have friends who do - pass along the info!!!

Visiting Orphans invites you our 2^nd annual Give2Go at Rocketown!

Join us for night full of amazing praise and worship with inspiring testimonies and special guest appearances

* Doors open at 6PM * Winner of the MISSION TRIP GIVEAWAY will be announced at 8PM *

For more information visit:

http://www.visitingorphans.org/mission_trips/events/fundraising/2011/12-02/visiting-orphans-2nd-annual-give2go

If you are unable to attend, we would still love your help in spreading the word!

the story of Eyob.

2011-11-18T11:39:00.002-06:00

I posted earlier this month about my time at the dump.

And talked about my friend Eyob.

I shared a few weeks ago at my Perspectives class about the dump & I really think that itbrings it all into perspective when it's about a certain person. a story.

So I talked about Eyob.

Since I have returned home from Korah, I have found out more of his story through my precious friend Denae! I asked him if I could share some of his story with you.

Eyob was born in Korah and has a mother and a 7 year old sister, Titne. When he was a child hisfather left their family, leaving his mother as the sole provider for Eyob. Because she was very poor, his mother began going to the dump to get food for both her and Eyob. Eventually his mother married again and gave birth to Eyob's younger sister. Soon after Titne was born, however, his mother's second husband also left. Again, Eyob's mother was left to care for Eyob and Titne on her own. Because it was too difficult for her to provide for the both of them, Eyob began to also go to the dump to get food and whatever small items he could sell to make money. This led to him spending more and more time at the dump, which is called "koshi" in Ethiopia, until eventually he stopped going to school and began spending all his time at the dump. He began sleeping at the dump with his friends.

One day, Sammy, one of the staff at Great Hope Church came to the dump and explained to the children that there was an opportunity to attend a boarding school in Shashamene and get a good education and leave their lives at the dump behind. Eyob and his friends registered and last year he and 250 other children from the dump were loaded in buses and given new hope and a new life thanks to so many sponsors.

Today Eyob has hope and is ALWAYS smiling. He's happy to be at Shashamene again this year and said he is thankful to have 3 meals a day and a good place to sleep. He says he stillworries about his mom, like many of the children, who, by going to school, are no longer able to help provide for their families. He says he thinks about her a lot and hopes she is doing well andhe is thankful that she supports him going to school even though it makes it harder on her. (Its a sacrifice many of the children had to make as many of the kids, especially the older boys were providing for their families from the food they found at the dump and the things they would sell and then when they went to shashamene, they are no longer home to help with this - it shows how good of a woman his mother is and how she wants a better life for her son, even if the reward seems to be a long way off for her) He knows that school is good for him and he says he is trying his best to get good grades so he can achieve his dream of one day being apilot.

and a dad. He has told Denae he wants to get married & have 3 children. The poverty cycle broken.

I knew that week that God had linked us together for a purpose and it's only gotten stronger since I got home.

The above video is one my good friend Jenn took in Korah. Her team got there the night we left. I left her a note to please find Eyob and give him a hug & she was videoing and he just said "hi Wynne". Unplanned. She wasn't making it for me. But he knew we were friends & probably knew that she would show it to me. It melts my heart. I watch it often.

Since we've been home, I've communicated with Eyob on facebook and through letters. We facebook a few times a week & he always tells me he loves me and misses me. and thathe's praying for me. My good friend Sara just went to Ethiopia & sent along letters/pictures/bracelets to my boys and I found this pic of Eyob on facebook wearing the bracelet I made him :) They also sent LETTERS back to me!!! When I got them it absolutely made my day.

If you don't have a sponsor kid, you should seriously get one. It's so much fun to communicate with them and start a relationship. Project 61 is about to add 25 students to their Bright Hope School, if you are interested in sponsoring one of them email Erin Allen at erin@p61.org

for a short documentary about Project 61 & Korah - watch this!

Project 61: Spreading Hope - A short documentary from Session 7 Media on Vimeo.

4 months.

2011-11-17T18:24:00.001-06:00

on the 11th we reached the 4 months waiting to be matched with Camp markin the Caymans

I drew a #4 on the sand on the beach in the Caymans on that day

and watched the waves wash it away.

looking at pictures of my good friend Jenna's first meeting with their daughter, Emme in Ethiopia

longing to hear every detail

seeing her wearing all the cute outfits I helped Jenna pick out for her

and her wearing the backpack I bought for her in Rwanda

and knowing next time I go to their house, there will be pictures of her everywhere

she is real

she is their daughter

they have waited for her, prayed for her, longed for her

and now they know her

this gives me tremendous HOPE.

knowing that Camp is a real person

he might actually not be born yet, but we pray for him everyday

we pray for his mom - if she's pregnant, that she will be healthy & we pray for her salvation, that if she doesn't already, that someone will introduce her to Jesus.

we pray for Camp

just like we would pray for a baby that grows in bellies

will you pray for him with us?

paradise.

2011-11-15T23:15:00.001-06:00

this is where we went on our mystery anniversary trip.......

the CAYMAN ISLANDS!!!!!

I am a beach girl.

I’m also a summer girl.

I love the lazy days that the beach scene provides

Sand between my toes

No shoes

Natural blonde highlights from the sun

No plans

Brown skin

Fruity drinks

Books

Fresh & yummy food from the ocean

The water

I love it all.

This past week was paradise.

A week away with my man.

Date night every night

{Except the last night when we cooked out with our new newlywed friends from Indiana – hi Bethany!}

Time to Read. Rest. Write. Listen to Catalyst podcasts. Spend time with Jesus. Pray.

Dream!

As we spent our last morning on the beach, in our chairs in the shade, coffee & bibles in hand I read the Jesus Calling for that day.....

God just reminded me how faithful & good He is!!!

I had been praying all week that I would neither feel guilty that we took the time & money to get away nor feel like this trip was something we deserved.

We deserve nothing.

Here’s what Jesus Calling said….

“This is a time of abundance in your life. Your cup runneth over with blessings. After plodding uphill for many weeks, you are now traipsing through lush meadows drenched in warm sunshine. I want you to enjoy to the full this time of easy & refreshment. I delight in providing it for you.

Sometimes my children hesitate to receive My good gifts with open hands. Feelings of false guilt creep in, telling them they don’t deserve to be so richly blessed. This is nonsense thinking, because no one deserves anything from Me. My kingdom is not about earning and deserving: it’s about believing and receiving.

When a child of Mine balks at accepting My gifts, I am deeply grieved. When you receive My abundant blessings with a grateful heart, I rejoice. My pleasure in giving and your pleasure in receiving flow together in joyous harmony.”

Thank you Jesus for your good gifts. I receive them with open hands!

travel well, Noonday style!

2011-11-14T21:07:00.004-06:00

{while I sort through Cayman pics...thought I'd give a few tips to have to travel in style! and check out The Intentional Momma's give away she's having right now....one of these items could be yours!}

Having done quite a bit of traveling this year, I have got my travel must haves down!

Most of my new favorite travel must haves are Noonday Collection pieces! If you are traveling soon or are looking for the perfect gift for a frequent traveler for Christmas look no further…

The Vaca Bag

$78

Made in India

This bag has been all over the world with me. Literally. From the beach, to rural Ugandan towns to Springfield, Missouri. The perfect weekend bag also! It’s sturdy and will hold all of your carry on/weekend must haves!

Travel Well

$24

Honestly, I love to have a separate bag to put my undies/bras/etc in my bag and this one is perfect! Then on the way home, it carries all of your dirty stuff that you don’t want to sit amongst your clean clothes ;) It was perfect for all my swimsuits at the end of a week at the beach also!

Patchwork Makeup Bag

$22

Made in India

I love this makeup bag! Every one is different, so it’s a fun surprise to get in the mail! It’s big enough for me to carry all of my makeup, perfume and hair accessories {and if you know me, that is a lot!}. It’s soft shell is perfect to throw in your suitcase or carry on (va-ca bag for me!).Perfect gift for a friend too! I’m thinking this bag & a new lip-gloss would be the perfect sister or sister-in-law Christmas gift! OR would be amazing hostess gifts (if someone is throwing you a bridal or baby shower!).

And last but NOT least….

My absolute FAVORITE item on the Noonday website right now....

Zip up Wrap

$78

Made in Peru

This is my favorite! I’ve taken it with me to every travel destination – the beach, the very cool Mid-West, everywhere. You can zip it up around your neck when it’s cold (or on the plane) and then I’ve also been known to use it as a pillow or unzip it all and use it as a blanket! It’s the PERFECT fall/winter accessory.

Now….go on….do some shopping!

Remember that ALL of the commission I receive goes towards our adoption fund or mission trip fund!

Also....my good friend Lauren Casper started auctioning off these AMAZING baskets to raise funds for their Ethiopian adopting (#2!) There is a $50 Noonday gift card in there among other amazing things - for $5 you get 1 entry! Go check it out & support an adoptive momma!

http://www.laurencasper.com/2011/11/14/huge-giveaway-baskets-of-love-gifts-galore/

Elder Tour of the Ozarks!

2011-11-14T15:29:00.001-06:00

If you've been reading since this summer, you know we made a trip with Visiting Orphans to Uganda & Ethiopia on the first official "man up" trip. Close to half of our team is from the Branson/Springfield area and a "Pirates dig a well" fundraiser was all we needed to make, as Rob coined it, the Elder tour of the Ozarks.

It took me 3 flights, but finally made it to Brason! It really is a beautiful part of the country - cool weather, beautiful fall leaves, it felt very fall-ish!

The awesome thing about this fall tour was that we got to stay with 2 diffrent families. Mitch's family & Rob's family :) We bonded immieditly with Mitch's kids, Landri & Kyson! I have to say snuggling with them was one of the highlights of my weekend.

The families all had stuff going on Friday night, so we got a tour of Randy Bacon's studio - that included Jonathan & Shailey's space too (Harp Creative)! Then we walked downtown Springfiled to a yummy Mexican food dinner. So fun to catch up with Jonathan & Shailey! Friends that are of like mind & have expierenced the same life-changing event as you are fun & easy to be with!

Saturday we were seriously awakened with Starbucks IN BED (thanks Shannon!) and then had a fun day of snuggling, watching college football, shopping, sushi lunch with the girls & hang out at the Neals house! All before the big event......

Dinner with the gang in Brason before the fundraiser!

The fundraiser was a blast - so fun to catch up with old friends AND support the Chuko water project. More on this soon :)

Dig Deep - through a Glimmer of Hope

click above link for more info!

It was so fun to get to meet spouces, kids & get to go to CHURCH with our man up family. This is us after church at lunch. Loved their spirit filled church, loved worshiping our God with them. I can't lie that my face was puffy and red after about 20 minutes of just letting the tears flow. Thanking our Father for the precious friends that live their lives all for HIS glory, giving their lives away for the cause of Christ.

What you've all been waiting for......the KIDS!

this is Zoie, she's Roger & Kari's Ethiopian princess!

she sings, she dances, she asks you to get in the "car" and drive to Target, she runs away when you try to tickle her. she is a ham & I absolutely LOVE her.

Caden is Rob & Julie's oldest Ethiopian little guy :) Him & his brother, Cruz, are super into Batman & Superman and are pretty much all over the place. Love him!

Cruz is Rob & Julie's other Ethiopian nugget. and my new boyfriend. that's right.

It took a full 24 hours for this 4 year old to warm up to me but once he did, he woudln't leave my lap. We snuggled, chased each other around, took pictures on his mom's phone (that he apparently carried around staring at after I left.....sad :( Him & his brother Caden make me SUPER EXCITED to have my own Ethiopian son one day!

Oh and how could we forget Kyson! Landri's little brother this guy is all boy. We read books together, watched college basketball, played mr potato head and of coarse, we snuggled.

It's really hard for me to think of these kiddos as once orphans. To see them in loving homes with christian families allows me know the father heart of God even more than before.

It makes we wonder what would have been if these families had said no.

Oh but God is good.

One of our favorite parts of the trip was the time we had at the Neals home. Rob was one of the leaders on our trip & quickly became one of our favorite people. Getting to know his wife, Julie, and 5 kids (well, 4 since oldest Caleb was on trip) was easy and fun.

We felt like a part of their family for the weekend.

whether it was sitting around the table eating Sunday pizza, or Saturday night after the event eating Wendy's with the older ones watching SNL (really took me back), going to church & to get ice cream and just sitting around chatting on the couch.

We can't wait for our home to be a place of love & lots of kids.

to be an open door for people to come & feel at home.

Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves that we don't yet have a family, why can't we be a family to those in our city that don't have one?

Don't know what that looks like yet....but praying!

What about you? What do you love most about being with family?

Guest Posting today!

2011-11-13T15:06:00.001-06:00

hi friends.

I'm back!

the beach proved to be an amazing place to write.

I have drafted I think over 12 blog posts

so get ready!

but today, I am guest posting over at my friend Brooke's blog, The Intentional Momma

Check it out here!