Meg’s house is droolworthy.
Her photog skills are crazy good.
And her blog is a must-read.
Plus, she crafts.
But you probably know that already.
Because doesn’t everyone read Meg?
* * * *
In 2009 a friend sent me information about Water4christmas.
She thought I would be able to get some exposure for them.
I thought it was a really cool charity.
I was inspired by these women who started this organization.
They are dedicated and passionate.
Water4Christmas raises money to build wells in West Africa through CharityWater.
In the fall another friend held a “craft weekend” inviting her friends to
come and make crafts to raise money for water4christmas.
I went and met these water women in person…and made crafts.
As we were packing up our things to drive back home I heard myself say:
“Sure…I would love to go to Africa. I will go with you.”
I didn’t think much about that statement.
It just kind of came out of my mouth.
I honestly never thought it would happen.
Never ever.
A month later I was told “we are going March 1, 2010”
My life was about be rearranged.
I raised money for the cost of the trip.
I got the shots.
I bought the plane ticket.
I made arrangements for my kids after school and wrote out schedules and precooked meals.
I got my passport.
I packed my little backpack as full as I could.
I cried. I prayed. I cried. I prayed.
And then….I got on a plane to Sierra Leone, West Africa.
22 hours later, I was in another world.
Everything was different.
Everything was like nothing I had seen before…only in a movie or National Geographic.
My role on this trip was to document through photography for our group.
Our group was made of 8 midwestern moms.
No men.
Leaving 34 children and 8 husbands at home in the states.
We worked with an organization called Word Made Flesh.
They work with youth who are on the streets in Freetown…teaching them about Jesus.
They care for their needs…teaching them life skills…loving them like mothers and fathers do.
They were amazing people being God’s hands and feet among the poorest of the poor.
They were compassionate and living the walk.
I changed inside during my time there.
Forever.
I saw that I am spoiled rotten…I had no idea how bad it was until then.
I saw that I can help.
I saw that we are all the same no matter where we live.
We are all broken in some way….our need in the US is just not as obvious in your face kind of way.
We hide it under our money and stuff.
But I need Jesus.
And they need Jesus.
God is with me here in my comfortable Kansas town and He is there in the slum of Freetown too.
I saw that.
We worked with two of the young men teaching them sewing techniques.
They had basic supplies but we helped them with skills.
They were so proud of their work.
We were too….like a mother is of her child’s A+.
It was humbling and AMAZING.
We went to church service for children in Kroo Bay.
We helped them set up, facilitate and participated in worship.
It was the moment I will never forget about Africa.
The sounds of that small blue room….filled with over a hundred African children praising Papa God.
One of the most spiritual moments I have had in my life was there…looking through my camera lens.
I want to go back.
I want to build wells.
I want to teach kids to sew there.
I want to meet God’s people on the other side of the world.
I want to be used by God in ways I never even imagined.
I am a 34 year old mother of five from small town Kansas.
I have never been anywhere as a “missionary”.
Yet God used me on the other side of the world in Sierra Leone West Africa.
Where can God use you?
* * * *
As I’m sure you can guess, Meg chose Word Made Flesh as her charity of choice.
Help people on the other side of the world.
People with the same deep seeded needs as our own.
Babies with toes so yummy, I want to eat them. (Really, how cute was that babe in the sling???!!!)
As always, paired with this fundraiser, you will be entered to win a
$25 shop credit to *Shey* [B] and you can score your very own cammy strap cover!!!
Jealous.
You can have a purdy cover before I have one.
Jealous.
You will get one entry to win for every dollar you donate to Word Made Flesh.
The more you give, the more entries you get.
You can also get an extra entry for Liking my Facebook Page.
Just be sure to leave a comment in this post letting me know.
Winning would be rad.
But giving to give with a pure heart is rad enough on its own merit.
Happy Monday!
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I’m going on my own first {eye opening} mission trip Saturday to El Salvador. I love how she describes what she saw. Amazing. If I weren’t completely out of money for my own trip I would definitely donate. I’ll save the link to do it when I get back. And holy buckets can you believe that woman with the huge basket of stuff on her head and no hands???
.-= Mari´s last blog ..On Motherhood =-.
Loved Meg’s posts on Africa. They touched my heart then and even more now. I wanna go. Amazing how one day you can just be a midwestern MOM and the next a missionary. What a life changing experience!
.-= Becky @ Farmgirl Paints´s last blog ..In with the NEW =-.
oh, how this touches my heart. I’m moving to Africa in July and I’m sitting here reading this in tears. I’ve been before and this stirred up so many emotions in me. I cannot wait to be on that beautiful continent, loving on God’s beautiful children. Thanks, Meg, for sharing.
Of course i read meg. every single day. LOVE her blog.
and now i’m a facebook fan of life rearranged. and i just had to make sure i spelled rearranged right. ;)
.-= Sara @ It’s Good to be Queen´s last blog ..friday randomness =-.
This is beautiful! Thank you for the opportunity to give!
.-= Kate @ Songs Kate Sang´s last blog ..Weekend Pretties… =-.
I love your blog! I’m also liking your fan page on facebook!
Just ‘liked’ your page on FB!
Already ‘love’ Meg & Whatever!
I found your blog through Meg’s. I really enjoy it. I went to Facebook and became a fan of your’s. Thank you!
facebook fan
.-= Stephanie C.´s last blog ..18 Months! =-.
I found your blog through Meg’s. This is great how one great blog leads to another.
hey there – came to your blog through the pleated poppy.
as i was checking out the blog, i was completely struck by this post. i went on a mission trip to kenya this past january, and one of the major takeaways for me from that trip appears to be one of the same ones that you had: our money and “affluence” (because we’re not all affluent, but in comparison we certainly are) and stuff cover up all the hurt and broken-ness we have. so cool what you’re doing here…looking forward to sticking around!
I just liked your page on facebook. I really want to win a sheyb :)
huge fan of megs… and of jess’s. came here via jess (and now meg). i love how life rearranged doesn’t always mean tragedy. i’m a huge supporter of charity:water and also a fan on facebook.
so love what you are doing with your blog.
may God bless you, friend!
.-= purejoy´s last blog ..laughing on the inside, sweating on the outside =-.
thanks for sharing and supporting word made flesh. my brother in law and sister in law were on staff with them for several years in india.
.-= Amber Cullum´s last blog ..February 4, 1990 =-.
Am I supposed to tell you here that I gave to Meg’s ministry? Cuz I did. Am I supposed to tell you here that I liked and shared your FB page? Cuz I did. ;-)
I just liked your page on FB. :)
I stumbled upon your blog again, and I’m so happy that I did! Meg, your story was so incredible and powerful. Our God is so good-
Ever since Chris, from WMF, came to speak at my college (Taylor University), I have had the blessing of supporting many friends as they allow God to use them among the poorest of the poor, along side word made flesh. My husband and I are praying that we can go and serve as well. Thanks again for an amazing post!
.-= Kacia @Coconut Robot´s last blog ..Happy Anniversary to my Ho =-.
like your facebook page…seeing how much $ i can scrounge up!
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I subscribed to your Feed too.
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