Do It for the Orphans

Scentsy Fundraiser

2012-02-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-06T18:39:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to go toAfrica for a while now but was never sure that it was what I was suppose to bedoing until a friend of mine went to Uganda. I supported her by doing a MK showand raised funds for her trip. Back inAugust, Derek and I went to a “show and tell” for this friend mission trip oncethey returned. Derek never really likesto go to these types of functions so when he said yes to going, that reallyspoke to me.

Derek may speak of this too,but as we were listening to the presentations of those who went on the trip, afeeling came to both of us. We bothbegan to cry but neither one of knew what the other was thinking until we wereon the way home. Derek and I both feltthis unusual sense at the same time that we should be in Africamaking difference. It only makes sincethat God was working on us and showing us what were suppose to be doing. We discussed what this might mean and decidedto call Greg. I began getting more signsfrom God telling me that this is really what he wants us to do. I have never felt this way before…I felt thatGod 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 inthe last week and he came to the same conclusion that this is what we arecalled to be doing at this time

After some research on Africaand Ethiopia I have really come to know that this is were I want to be doingmission work because It’s not okay with me that there is a child dying everyhour in Africa from hunger, It’s not okay with me that there are over 147million 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 toeat. It’s not okay with me that theseorphans think others don’t know they exist. It’s not okay with me that the mothers in Africa feel they have to selltheir body’s to make money then in turn die and leave their kids to fend forthemselves.

Even though we will only bein Ethiopia for 10 days….we WILL make a HUGE difference in these kidslives….they will know that people care about them, most importantly we willshow 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 agroup from chapel hill and others from across the US to share God’s love and weare so excited….while we are there we will be putting on a VBS type programwith 85 kids in the morning and another 85 kids in the afternoon. Our program is based on the Easter story andhas many activities planed. There willbe different stations like arts and crafts, sports activities, the message forthe day and time to open care packages and get to know these kids.

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

Project Sew Important Tutorial

2012-02-04T20:48:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-02T18:53:00.001-08:00

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

2012-02-02T18:48:00.000-08:00

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!

Our Mission Trip Preparing video

2012-01-30T15:56:00.000-08:00

January 23, 2012 Conference Call

2012-01-23T18:16:00.000-08:00

Tonight we had another conference call to plan our mission trip to Kombolcha, Ethiopia....It was awesome hearing some of the testimonies of the individuals that will be with us on this journey. It is amazing how GOD works on us and has brought us all together for this trip to make such a difference in these kid's lives. While listening to some of these testimonies, we continue to have HOPE that God will lead us to what our lives are meant for after this trip.

We also discussed how we will be conducting the lessons, games, and crafts while we are with the kids. We will be focusing on Easter since we are going just after Easter.

April 24 we will probably focus on Jesus' crucifixion (John 19), April 25 the Resurrection (John 20), and April 26 our reaction to the resurrection (specifically John 20:19-31).

We are welcoming crafts ideas, drama ideas, other ways of teaching the Easter story. Please contact us at dethepedsrn@yahoo.com with any ideas we can use with the kids.

Monday the 23rd is a travel day. We might have some time with the kids, but probably just for introductions, (maybe) care package distribution, or some sort of giveaway and a game or two.

Friday the 27th is feast day. We might do some games that day, but there will be less scheduled.

An updated list of items to donate will be provided soon!!
Thank You for everyone's SUPPORT AND PRAYERS
WE LOVE YOU ALL

Project Sew Update

2012-01-23T17:53:00.000-08:00

If you haven't read about our newest project- please click here then come back to read the update.

We are delighted by the number of woman who have joined our Project Sew Important group!! This will be an ongoing ministry so we will accept your sewing projects throughout the year. The deadline for our first project is April 1, 2012.

Several of you have asked if you could sew something less complicated. Yes!! We need drawstring bags for the pads and shields. You can find the bag pattern here.

If you don't sew but want to help please visit the la Sucette shop on Etsy. You may buy the finished products on Etsy and have them shipped to a team member. Please contact me at mblueberry.madamblueberry@gmail.com for a shipping address.

We also have several girls who need a sponsor. A sponsorship fee ($34 monthly) provides resources for children to receive at least one meal a day, school supplies, a school uniform, basic medical care and an education! Sponsors not only offer monthly support, but encouragement through prayer, letter writing, and relationship. Please contact me at mblueberry.madamblueberry@gmail.com for more information or to sign up!

PROJECT SEW

2012-01-23T17:50:00.000-08:00

In April we are going to our Children's HopeChest Care point in Kombolcha, Ethiopia. We will be serving 168 children, 96 of them girls.

The girls at our care point are vulnerable economically. Many of the girls are orphans and receive their only meal at our care point. These girls are in school because someone has cared enough to sponsor them so the required school fees have been paid. But they are still at risk.... Some girls miss school up to 4 days a month. They miss the lessons, the practice time, the homework, the exams and if they have a part time job they miss time a work/income because they cannot afford hygiene products. It happens every day in impoverished communities all over the world... it's happening at our care point.

We want to change that at our care point. We want to ensure our girls and young ladies have their own sustainable, effective feminine hygiene products.

We've started "Project Sew Important". If you sew and can help, please join us! We have two patterns options provided by Days for Girls. Please e-mail me atmblueberry.madamblueberry@gmail.com for all the details. We have a snap machine so we can finish off the products for you.

If you cannot sew but would like to help you may buy the finished product online, here , Please contact me for a shipping address for one our our team members. Please e-mail me for details.

Thank you for making a difference in young women's lives.

Care Packages and Donation Items

2012-01-18T18:32:00.000-08:00

Some of you have been asking about items we will be taking with us and items you could possibly donate. We have started getting list together but we will begin to add to this list as the planning continues. As of now and for sure we are making care packages for each kid....

This includes the following items in a Gallon Zip Lock BagRecommended Care package items

T-shirt (not white)- remove any tags & packaging- roll it up like a burrito and rubber band Underwear (briefs 1-2) - remove from packaging, multiple pairs- roll up like a burrito and rubber band
Toothbrush - PLEASE remove from packagingBar of soap- please keep in box or place in small Ziploc bag
beef jerky
Granola bar
Pencils and blue or black ink pens with caps (BIC pens)

For girls- barrettes/hair ties- Optional: small sewing kit for older girls
or
For boys- matchbox car for boys for boys 8 and younger OR a very small flashlight with batteries for boys older than 8

Most important: Letter and PHOTOS for each child If you are interested in making a care package for a specific child who is not sponsored or can help financially for camp supplies please let me know.

Also, we will be collecting Granola Bars, Candy, Feminine Products (pads or liners), T-shirts (not white)...sizes to come Thank You for all your support!! If you are interested in making any donations then please contact me dethepedsRN@yahoo.com

Grace Baptist Kombolcha Care Point

2012-01-16T18:07:00.000-08:00

Children at Grace Baptist Church in KombolchaEthiopia has an estimated population of 80 million people.*The average income in Ethiopia is US $100 a year.Almost 82% of the population lives on less than $1 a day.Malnutrition levels are among the highest in the world.The average life expectancy is 43 years.Ethiopia is home to approximately 4-5 million orphans, or approximately 12% of all children. More than half a million of these were orphaned as a result of AIDS.Literacy rate: 42.7% age 15 and over can read and write.Only 18 percent of children reach grade five.

-According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, Kombolcha is dealing with moderate to high food insecurities.Many of the children in Komobolcha are double orphans—meaning they have lost both parents. They live with a relative but many of these families can only provide a roof over the child's head. These families are so impoverished that they cannot provide food for the child they take in

2012-01-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

We Invite you to join us for a Scentsy Party!!!Nicole Goolsby has offered to do a Scentsy party in which the profits of the party will go towards our Mission Trip Fund.When: Jan. 15th at 2pmWhere: Our HomeYou can place orders up to the last day the month to go toward our mission. You can visit http://scentsy.net/ to view an online catalog. We discovered Scentsy before Christmas and we love it....they make great gifts!!Please let us know if you would like to place an order, need directions to our home or have any questions.dethepedsrn@yahoo.comThanks for everyone's prayers and support.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T18:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone!! We love you all. Some of you have expressed an interest in donating items for us to take to the kids when we go to Kombolcha. We are working to get care packages for each child and getting our lessons ready...we will have our list more compiled in January after our next 2 phone conferences. More to come to soon....Happy Holidays and Happy Birthday Jesus---Deanna and Derek

My Heart is in Ethiopia

2011-12-18T19:28:00.000-08:00

Only 4 months until we leave for Ethiopia and I can't wait to love on all those kids and show them how much we care about them when we don't even know them. We will be with 300 kids that are not adoptable and who only get one meal a day. These kids need love and hope. They just need to know that there are people in the world that know they exist. Not only will we be teaching them about God's love but we will also be learning so much from them. I can't wait!! My heart is in Ethiopia....Deanna

One Child

2011-12-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

Ethiopia: historical, the birthplace of coffee, strategic, beautiful beyond words and home to over 5 million orphans. One Child Campaign began here in East Africa. The goal of our vision trips is to create a united effort to give voice to orphans, widows and the destitute through holistic and sustainable means. This will be accomplished through sponsorship, empowerment, job creation and discipleship that will meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the children and families. We believe in adoption, but that is only 1% of the solution to kids in this nation. What about the 99% of those who are unadoptable? This trip will immerse you into the lives of orphans, street kids and silent heroes who lay their lives down for the least of these every single day. It will create an experience that will raise awareness, but also for you to realize the impact you can have through practical application of compassion and justice. This is a united mission to raise up a generation with selfless faith. Together, we can breathe hope into the orphan crisis in Ethiopia.

Video of the Lawson Family

2011-12-03T20:24:00.000-08:00

The Lawson FamilyClick on the link to see our family pictures in video form....We love this video and wanted to share it with those of you who view our blog

2011-11-29T17:12:00.001-08:00

We got a e-mail today from our trip leader, Rob Tennant, pastor of HillSong Church with the following information about getting prepared for our trip. Many of you have been asking how things are coming...hopefully this will give an over all update.

We must begin our preparation for the trip. That includes preparing spiritually through prayer (individual and group prayer), and practical preparations (ie what are we going to actually do for a week in Ethiopia?).

I'd like each of us to read the book When Helping Hurts (by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert). This book by Corbett and Fikkert provides an excellent perspective on well intentioned Christians making trips to places in the third world. My approach to short-term trips like the one we'll be taking is very much in line with what the authors present and it will be very helpful if we all understand that approach. We as American Christians are coming alongside the handful of Ethiopian men and women in the town of Kombolcha who daily care for, feed, and teach Christianity to 300 children who are ineligible for adoption but have next to nothing in the way of provision and education. We are encouragers, there to be of assistance to the evangelists and caregivers who love these kids. And we are there to let these children know that God loves them and that in Jesus Christ, they have hope and their lives have meaning and purpose.

Here's a snap-shot of our itinerary:
April 21, 2011 - Fly out of Dulles airport, Washington DC
April 22, 2011 - Arrive in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia
April 23, 2011 - take 7-hour van ride to Kombolcha
April 24-27 - run a fun, Bible camp - in the morning, we'll work with about 80-85 kids. In the afternoon, we'll run the same program for a second set of 80-85 kids.
April 28 - in the morning we will have a feast for all the kids (about 300, those in the Hope Chest Program and the others at that facility as well)
April 28 - after the feast, we head back to Addis
April 29 - during the day souvenir shopping in Addis
April 29 - in the evening, we fly out
April 30 - Return to USA

300 Kids

2011-11-20T19:05:00.001-08:00

We just found out that we will be working with 300 kids in Kombolcha. We will be doing bible school type lessons with them everyday. We will be having our first group meeting soon with everyone going. At that meeting we will discuss what supplies we need to take with us. Originally, we were going to have a little health clinic but now the doctors and other nurses that had planned to go can not go any longer. We still have lots of other plans that we will share soon. We are so grateful to have these plans come together and can't wait to see what God has in store!!

THANK YOU!!!

2011-11-14T19:45:00.001-08:00

We would like to give a big THANK YOU for all the donations thus far!! We are so very Grateful that God has blessed us with the funds that have started to come in.

HOPE

2011-11-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

HOPE is what we needed the last 2 years and we continue to hang on to the hope that God gives us. This video shows the HOPE that we can give orphans all over that world. Thank you for all the prayers as we set out on this journey to Kombolcha.

You can watch it here:
http://vimeo.com/19223562

John 10:10

http://vimeo.com /19223562

Derek is getting excited now!!!!

2011-10-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to get more excited now that the support money is coming in. We have already received some donations this past week and it has really shown me that God will provide. We also received a "lil" note from one of our supporters and it was very heart warming. I've been having a feeling inside me and all I can say is that its the prayers that are being lifted up for us. So as we wait to go, I'll just keep checking the mail and having these feelings!!! This message has been brought to you by Derek

Grateful

2011-10-22T08:38:00.000-07:00

Right after updating our blog this morning, something told me to go check the mail. As I pulled out the mail, I saw an envelope from a close friend. I was amazed to find another donation. We are so grateful for what God is doing for us and are so happy to share our hope with all of you! Thank you everyone for supporting us so we can make a difference in these children's lives.

Our First Donation

2011-10-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, when I got home from work, Derek was rather excited! His excitement was contagious when I found out that we got our first donation in the mail for our mission trip. It's real and God is providing. We are so grateful and can't wait to see what God has in store for us.

Support Letter

2011-10-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends, We have some exciting news!! We have an amazing opportunity to travel to Ethiopia with an organization called One Child Campaign. We are so excited and can’t wait to get there to show God’s love to these under privileged kids. A few months back, we attended a “show and tell” about a mission trip that we helped financially. As we were listening to the presentation, a feeling came to the both of us. We didn’t know until the ride home that both of us felt the same thing at the same time. God was working on us!! We discussed what this might mean and decided to call our pastor. With the pastor’s guidance, MORE signs from God and the two of us praying we came to the conclusion that this is what we are called to do at this time. We have discussed this with

other members of our church family and have a group teaming up with another church in Raleigh to set out on this adventure. We will be traveling to different cities in Ethiopia, April 21-30 2012, visiting a number of orphanages with the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to orphan children. We will be playing with the children and loving on them, we will also bringing in medical supplies, shoes and hoping to meet some other basic needs. We are so excited to have the opportunity to be part of this team. We will need to raise around $6,000 to cover the trip cost and in addition are hoping to raise extra funds to support some of One Child’s capital projects at these orphanages. We are looking for a team of people to partner with us both in prayer and financially for this adventure. We are in need of financial partners who would commit to give any amount towards our trip. In giving towards this trip you will be touching the lives of orphan children in Ethiopia. Please prayerfully consider joining us in this journey. We are also looking for a prayer team. We need prayer while we are preparing for this trip and while we are on this wonderful trip. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible contribution toward our trip, make a check payable to One Child Campaign and mail it to us at: Derek and Deanna Lawson 731 Afton Park Drive Kernersville, NC 27284 OR Goodwill Baptist Church C/o Greg Mullis 3110 Piney Grove Road Kernersville, NC 27284We look forward to sharing all the AMAZING things that God does on this trip. We also have a blog if you would check it out, www.doitfortheorphans.blogspot.com.Sincerely,Derek and Deanna Lawson

One Child Video

2011-10-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

One Child Campaign is a ministry outreach of Faith Central Ministries. The vision of the Orphan Awareness and Vision trips is to create a united effort of ministries to give voice to the over 4.3 million orphans in Ethiopia. This will be accomplished through sponsorship, empowerment and discipleship that will meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the children.

Sponsor a Child

2011-09-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

We have joined with Children's Hope Chest to sponsor a child at Grace Baptist Church in Kombolcha, Ethiopia. A sponsorship fee ($34 monthly) provides resources for children to receive at least one meal a day, school supplies, a school uniform, basic medical care and an education! Sponsors not only offer monthly support, but encouragement through prayer, letter writing, and relationship.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child, please contact Candy at mblueberry.madamblueberry@gmail.com. She will match you with a child, send you a photo and information about your sponsor child along with instructions on how to register as that child's sponsor.

Acceptance Letter

2011-09-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

On Monday night (September 26th, 2011), Derek and I received our acceptance letters for the Ethiopia Trip and we were so excited. It really hasn't set in for Derek yet. He says it really won't seem real until we start to raise funds....if we are really meant to go then God will provide us with the funds.

On the other hand, I was jumping for joy when I read this:

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to join the One Child Campaign Mission and Vision Trip from April 21-30, 2012 to Kombolcha and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We are looking forward to having you as a member of this team! We will see and experience A LOT and try to also have some good hands on experiences as much as possible...and some fun cultural things too!

About 2 months Ago...

2011-09-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

About 2 months ago Derek and I shared our feelings with one another about helping orphans in Africa. We had no idea how each other felt until our way home from a "show and tell" about our friend's Uganda trip. We both felt that God had a plan for us to help the orphans in Africa in some way. After praying and getting many signs we got together with our pastor to help us decide when and where we would go.

God works in mysterious ways...we originally wanted to go to Uganda and Ethiopia on a 2 week trip. As we went to apply for that trip we found that it had gotten cancelled. We then found a trip to Ethiopia associated with One Child Campaign, which was much cheaper and a shorter time frame that works better for our vacation time. God must really want us to go on this trip because we then got our passports without any bumps in the road in 3 weeks which got us really pumped because this was our "travel pass" to other countries.

Several emails and discussions later led us both to applying for the trip through the One Child Campaign. We sent our applications and fees in on September 22, 2011....who knew what would come next!!!