In Preparation.

As the team prepares to leave for Africa in just TWELVE short days our pastor played one of my favorite videos ever. I'm leveled each and every time I watch it. Sara Groves sings so perfectly what God has done in my heart using Africa as His tool to remind me to love deeper. To love better. To give more. To be HIS hands and feet. While I'm anxious to go back to Ethiopia, I'm praying for an even bigger wrecking in my heart. A wrecking to be more like Christ. To give MORE. To sacrifice. My prayer is that my life would be a living sacrifice for my King of Kings.

I leave you with this video from Sara and below that is a list of donation needs for the ministries we'll be working with in Ethiopia. If you'd rather donate financially we will be shopping here in the states just before we leave to take the needed items over. If locals have a connection with a business that may want to donate any of these items please let me know. We can provide tax deductible receipts for them if necessary.

CFI (Compassion Family International www.cyministry.org) Needs in Order of Importance:

For children:

1. children's clothes/shoes (for ages 4-12 at CFI, for the outside kids-10 are in Junior High and 12 are high school)

2. parent and guardian clothes/shoes (especially underwear for women)

3. lotion

4. bar soap

For staff:

1. lotion

2. soap

3. tennis shoes

FOR ORPHANAGES:

Health/Medicine:

BandAids

Antibacterial ointment

Childrens Tylenol

Childrens Motrin

Gauze pads

Antifungal cream - used to treat ring worm (Tinactin, Micatin, Lotrimin-AF, or Lamisil)

Kaopectate

Clothing/Shoes:

Pants

Shirts - no tank tops

Dresses - modest

Underwear

Socks

Shoes

Crocs

Baby Needs:

Cloth Diapers

Rubber Pants or Diaper Covers

Diaper Pins

Baby Toys

Baby Blankets

Onesies

Outfits

Formula

Desitin

A&D Ointment

Sleepers

Crib Sheets

Waterproof Pads

Children/Toys/School:

Pens

Pencils

Paper

Lined Paper

Notebooks

Rulers

Stickers - the kids LOVE these

Foam stickies - we'll use these for interactive projects with the kids

Pipe Cleaners

Little googly eyes

Puff balls for projects

Glue

Card Stock

Sidewalk Chaulk

Balls

Soccer Balls

Beach balls

Basket Balls

Inflating pumps/needles

Hacky Sacks

Other Things:

Dum Dums - perfect for handing out

Granola Bars

Stickers - to take with us for street kids/interaction

Gum - the kids LOVE gum

Little toys/bouncy balls for interaction on the streets

Small blow up balls

HUGE parachute for playing with the kids in the orphanage