Have you ever watched God work through someone? Or work in their life? And it’s so obviously God? Something so big and real that it is just so definitely supernatural?

I have. I watched Kristen go to Kenya. While she was there, God broke changed opened her. And soon, she and her family opened Mercy House, a maternity home for women girls in Kenya. I have followed the stories of Mercy House and at every turn you can see God’s finger writing their story.

One day I was reading a post on the Mercy House blog about how the girls (the pregnant girls who had been rescued) did a service project to a local school. All they did was prepare lunch for 350 kids (which in and of itself is a pretty big deal). But, when lunchtime came 750 people showed up.

And guess what?

Just like the loaves and fishes, they didn’t run out of food. Everyone was served. And filled. AND there were leftovers (This is what God does, people!!!)

I read the post to Lydia and she was surprised. Surprised that a Bible-time miracle would happen again today. I don’t want her to be surprised by God’s power.

I want her to expect it!

That’s one reason we sponsor through Compassion is because I want Lydia and Asa to see the miracles God can do through our faithfulness to give, write letters and pray. It’s why I want my kids to do hard things, so they have to rely on God’s power and not their own. This is why I want to support ministries like Mercy House and World Vision and Operation Christmas Child. I want small acts to be big in my kids’ lives. I want them to see how God’s power courses through normal people!

(Oooh, I’m getting excited!)

The Mercy House is in the middle of a grand reopening of their shop. Which is full of products made by the girls who live there.

(I have that cute bird ornament and that lovely blue necklace!)

I love to shop from these stores for gifts. It’s so fun to give someone a gift and say, “rescued girls in Africa made this” or “this gift helps a baby have the food it needs to survive”. And it’s like advertising for them, too!

So, my challenge for you today is to sit down with your kids, click over to the Mercy House shop and pick out a gift for the next birthday on your calendar–maybe a teacher? an aunt? Grandparents day? Let your kids know this gift is doing double–it will be a great gift for someone’s birthday and helping girls who have no one else to help them. You can also scroll through some of the pictures and posts on the Mercy House blog and talk about how God has rescued these girls and babies and loves them!

Plus, if you use the code REGRAND you’ll get 20% off your purchase between August 27 and September 10!

And will you also join me in praying for Mercy House? For Kristen and her family? For Maureen? And the girls and babies there? If you have a few minutes to cry your eyes out, here’s a brief story of The Mercy House in Kristen’s words…

Linked to Tidy Mom and Finer Things Friday

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A few days before Asa was born, I read a little book in one sitting. It’s called The Road of Lost Innocence by Somaly Mam. Even now, almost 4 years later, I can hardly write the emotions inside me when I think about this book. It’s the story of a young Cambodian girl (Somaly Mam), who is sold into prostitution. She lived through untold horrors. Miraculously, she survived and now runs her own organization to rescue child victims of sex-trafficking who are enslaved in brothels.

(Honestly, I have a lump in my throat right now.)

Somaly Mam is not the only girl who was kidnapped and abused. Today nearly 30,000 girls are enslaved in Cambodia alone. Girls as young as 3 are sold to men for thousands of dollars. They are captured, beaten, raped and more.

I’ve hooked up with Sevenly to help support Somaly Mam’s organization. Do you know about Sevenly? It’s a super-cool site that sells a new t-shirt every week. Each shirt is designed specifically to show support for a mission or organization. $7 from every t-shirt sold is given to that organization. It’s a cool way to raise awareness and actually support an organization.

What makes this week even cooler is that for this week only, they are doubling the donation and $14 from every tee (and tote bags) will go to the Somaly Mam foundation. And not just to a general pool in their foundation either, the $14 will be slated specifically for an undercover investigation and brothel raid to rescue girls. Your $14 will rescue a little girl!!

 

I know I just posted about South Sudan last week, but when this Somaly Mam and Sevenly partnership came by me, I had to show it to you. When I think of my precious Lydia sold and abused, I cannot imagine anything ANYTHING more important than rescuing her. So, I want to help those precious girls who have no one to rescue them. I want to rescue them the best way I can from my comfy home in the United States, by giving to people who are there and able to rescue them,

There are only 3 days left of this shirt & campaign. So, will you buy a shirt or tote? And when you wear it, will you pray for the girls you rescued? That they will meet, know and love their true Rescuer?

{and will you give one of these pictures a PIN to spread the word? thanks, friends!}

Note: Somaly Mam’s organization is not a Christian ministry. Sevenly is founded by Christians and has worked with many Christian ministries like Compassion International. I do trust Sevenly and have always had a heart for Somaly Mam’s work. (See my review of her book.) A quick Google search will help you find other Christian ministries that are working to abolish sex-trafficking and rescue girls in Jesus’ name, if you’d like to get involved with them.

some affiliate links used

 

***Impress Your Kids has some new digs at ohAmanda.com! Come visit us there for all the Impress Your Kids archives and all our new posts–including our Easter newsblast with fabulous tips for celebrating a meaningful Easter with your kids!***

On Sunday I was at Target (alone!) and stopped to tweet this:

It is like a family tradition that anytime we see a 70% off sign at Target or Michael’s we stop and buy a basket full of stuff. When everything is only 30 cents, you can buy almost 75 different pieces for $25! We usually stock up on socks, hair accessories and school supplies because they fit into our shoeboxes best. I love having my kids think about Operation Christmas Child all throughout the year. I want them to think outside of their own spoiled American life as often as possible.

This week, I was reminded about Samaritan’s Purse (who does Operation Christmas Child) again when I heard about what they are doing in South Sudan. It’s been a year since South Sudan has been an independent nation. Hundreds and thousands of people are fleeing North Sudan every day and coming to refugee camps in the South. Samaritan’s Purse has two refugee camps which takes care of 200,000 people.

They are caring for basic needs–water, shelter and food. But even in this place of refuge, supplies are scarce. People are building homes out of sticks. Women stand in line for three to four hours a day to fill up a dirty bucket and still get not-enough-water to drink, bathe and cook. I add lemon to my water. I’ll pour a cup of water in the sink if I left it in there overnight!

Each refugee family gets a 110 pound bag of sorghum, a can of cooking oil and a bag of beans to last them for one month. Y’all. I stress about planning three meals a day to go along with my self-imposed strict healing-foods-diet for my family. I buy fresh food from a local farmer and sometimes I throw fruit away if it’s overly ripe! There are almost 40 grocery stores within 15 miles of my house.

Malnourished people are flooding into the refugee camps. The number of malnourished children receiving outpatient therapeutic feeding has increased by 30 percent since May. The number of severely malnourished children admitted to their inpatient stabilization center increased by 181 percent. The highest number of inpatient admissions (73) in a single day was Tuesday, July 3. SEVENTY THREE malnourished kids admitted in one day!

Sometimes I’m the one that needs to be reminded of the real world outside my spoiled, American life.

Will you watch this video about the Sudanese refugee camps? See the people? The heart of Samartian’s Purse to love others in Jesus’ name?

Now, will you do something?

Maybe give?

Maybe just LIKE their pictures on Facebook so others can hear their story?

Maybe pray right now with your kids for the kids and families of Sudan?

And if you’re like me and want to know more, watch these videos about the Sudanese refugee camps. You may even want to show them to your children–expand their world and their heart!

>>Donate to Samaritan’s Purse South Sudan Projects<<

LINKY PARTY

***Impress Your Kids has some new digs at ohAmanda.com! Come visit us there for all the Impress Your Kids archives and all our new posts–including our Easter newsblast with fabulous tips for celebrating a meaningful Easter with your kids!***