Prayer Requests and NEEDS

We have 7 weeks until our trip and we are starting to feel some pressure as our team is wrapping up activities and collecting items to take with us as we conduct a VBS type of program with the kids in Ethiopia.  With this in mind, we have some prayer request.

- We would like to pray that we get all the supplies we needs specifically:

 Wipes (the location we will be conducting the camp doesn't have running water, so wipes will help out with craft projects and cleaning up before eating).  We will use about 200-300 wipes per day. Currently we need 10 more packs of wipes.  




Duct Tape: We will be making duct tape bracelets with the kids one day during craft time.  There are lots of colored Duct tapes these days and need at least 15 -20 rolls of all different colors.

Scratch-Art Paper Multicolor: This is paper that you scratch to make a picture.  This will give the kids something to work on if they finish there craft project for the day earlier than others.  We need about 170 sheets of the scratch art paper.

Fabric Markers or Fabric Puff Pant:  We will be designing t-shirts that says, "Jesus Loves Me" in Amharic.  I make one myself as an example.  This is what it will look like when the kids make it but we won't be able to do this if we don't have the supplies.  

WE NEED ABOUT 200-300 WIPES PER DAY BECAUSE WE WILL BE WITHOUT RUNNING WATER DURING THE VBS CAMP.  WE ALSO NEED HAND SANITIZER.  WE ARE STILL COLLECTING GRANOLA BARS AND SUGAR FREE FRUIT ROLL UPS.

 -Would also like to pray that everyone in our team is able to raise their funds to go on our mission trip.  Currently, Derek and I need about $1500 more!

-Please Pray that we continue to receive funds and donations.

-We know the devil will try all he can to get us not to go on this mission trip...please pray that we continue to stay strong and get over all the humps that come about.  

Getting Care Packages Together

 Several of our friends and family have chosen to put together care packages for kids we will meet while we are in Ethiopia.  Last night we helped my Mom and Dad get their packages together.  It is so much fun to shop for the kids and know that these packages will be greatly appreciated.  You also write a note and send a picture so the children will know who is thinking of them.  Their will be pictures to come of this process.  New Hope UMC Women's Circle and Goodwill Baptist Youth Group will also be putting together care packages for us to take as well.  Thank You for everyone's love for the kids in Ethiopia!!

How you can help!

We are holding a Soup Fundraiser to continue to raise money for our Mission Trip to Ethiopia!! 


You have the choice between CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP  or  BROCCOLI AND CHEESE SOUP which is being sold by the quart.  Each quart is $7.50 and your entire purchase amount will go toward our mission funds.  

We will take orders for 2 weeks then the SOUPS will be HOME MADE and ready for PICK-UP or DELIVERY on the WEEKEND of MARCH 10th.  

Soup is easy to freeze and warm up on a cold day!!  Both soups will be made by Derek and Deanna with the help of our parents.  

Thank You for your support!

This is Derek...


I am getting really excited now and can't really put into to words what it is I am about to venture out on. There is so much love and support going on around me that it is hard for me to actually keep the tears from flowing. Just yesterday, one of my cousins sent an email out to all of her friends telling them what we were setting out to do. She surprised me by sending it to me and as I was reading it at work among co-workers the tears were building up. She has supported us with all of our fundraisers and still wants to do more for us. I know there are many more out there that wish they could do more but can't. Don't think that...PRAY for us. There are times during the day that I have this feeling come over me and I can't help but think that someone is praying for our trip. It really does make you have warm fuzzies inside to know that someone cares enough to pray for your calling from God.


The main reason we are going is to show love to God's children. I can't wait to be around these kids. I have volunteered to be part of the recreation part of the bible school. We are planning on playing parachute games with them. We are also going to playing a lot of soccer with them I'm told. This is going to great!!!!

One of the things that we are doing is giving out care packages for the kids at the orphanage. They have various needed items put into them. One of the items for our sponsored kid is going to be this cross I painted and decorated. It is what we are going over there for...God and love.

Hopefully, when we get back all of you folks can hear what God has done with us and for us by getting the chance to go and love these kids.

Scentsy Fundraiser

2/11/12:

We would like to Thank Nicole Goolsby and her Scentsy business for raising funds for our trip.  We had a Scentsy party in January with total sales of $550 and profit of $160 toward our trip.  This pushed us over the edge to pay for our plane tickets!! We are so thankful for those who attended the party and made purchases.  Thank You everyone for your participation!!

We are even more thankful to have made a new friend...Nicole!



1/15/2012
Today was the Scentsy Party Fundraiser!! It went Great!! I would like to THANK Nicole Goolsby for doing this for Derek and I. I will continue to be taking orders until the end of the month. The profits of this Scentsy orders will go toward our Mission Trip to Kombolcha.

Visit Scentsy.net to look at the catalog and feel free to email me at dethepedsprn@yahoo.com if you would like to place an order.

Deanna's Mission Testimony

I have been wanting to go to Africa for a while now but was never sure that it was what I was suppose to be doing until a friend of mine went to Uganda. I supported her by doing a MK show and raised funds for her trip.  Back in August, Derek and I went to a “show and tell” for this friend mission trip once they returned.  Derek never really likes to go to these types of functions so when he said yes to going, that really spoke to me. 

Derek may speak of this too, but as we were listening to the presentations of those who went on the trip, a feeling came to both of us.  We both began to cry but neither one of knew what the other was thinking until we were on the way home.  Derek and I both felt this unusual sense at the same time that we should be in Africa making difference.  It only makes since that God was working on us and showing us what were suppose to be doing.  We discussed what this might mean and decided to call Greg.  I began getting more signs from God telling me that this is really what he wants us to do.  I have never felt this way before…I felt that God was actually talking to me and telling us that we were suppose to be in Africa helping children.  Derek told me after a week of praying that he had gotten more signs in the last week and he came to the same conclusion that this is what we are called to be doing at this time

After some research on Africa and Ethiopia I have really come to know that this is were I want to be doing mission work because It’s not okay with me that there is a child dying every hour in Africa from hunger, It’s not okay with me that there are over 147 million kids in Africa that are orphaned because their parents died of aids, It’s not okay with me that these kids have no homes to stay warm in or food to eat.  It’s not okay with me that these orphans think others don’t know they exist.  It’s not okay with me that the mothers in Africa feel they have to sell their body’s to make money then in turn die and leave their kids to fend for themselves.

Even though we will only be in Ethiopia for 10 days….we WILL make a HUGE difference in these kids lives….they will know that people care about them, most importantly we will show them that God cares about them too.  These kids will understand they do have a chance.  Not only will they be affected by our visit, and those to come, but we will be forever changed in many different ways. 

We are teaming up with a group from chapel hill and others from across the US to share God’s love and we are so excited….while we are there we will be putting on a VBS type program with 85 kids in the morning and another 85 kids in the afternoon.  Our program is based on the Easter story and has many activities planed.  There will be different stations like arts and crafts, sports activities, the message for the day and time to open care packages and get to know these kids. 

Thank You for all of your support, prayers and time for us to share this adventure with you. 

Project Sew Important Tutorial

A lot of people were interested in making these but weren't sure about the pattern and material, so here is a video made by Laura Driggers, who is also going on our mission trip to Kombolcha.
Thanks for all your work and donations!!

Speical Update from Kombolcha Carepoint: December's Newsletter

During this last quarter there were some events that were undertaken: The New Year celebration, the new school year, and Christmas. The Ethiopian New Year celebration was celebrated on September 11, 2011. The children celebrated this holiday with a special meal with their parents and guardians. A few days later, the children formally began the new academic school year. It was obvious that the children were eager to see their classmates and teachers. They were also eager to receive new school supplies such as, school bags, uniforms, exercise books, and pens and pencils. In early September some of the children also received shoes. These shoes were donated by Caleb David from One Child Campaign. On January 7th, the Ethiopian Christmas was celebrated. The CarePoint leaders tried their best to make the holy day more special and purposeful. It’s not only a matter of celebration, but also it is all about the life changing birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The CarePoint staff taught the children the true meaning of Christmas, the celebration of Jesus, the Christ. The kids expressed their gratitude to their sponsor families for all these contributions.

Look at these cute bows I bought to support Abby

Abby is going on our Mission Trip to Ethiopia and she is selling these cute bows that she is making!! She is doing a great job at raising money...please visit her blog at www.thepdd.blogspot.com

Poster Making with Abby and Deanna

Abby Mullis and I (Deanna) made a poster for church to collect items to take with us to Kombolcha, Ethiopia. Our sharing time with church is this coming Sunday!