Above and Beyond!

As of this moment, at 8:12 pm, we have almost 750 malaria nets--paid for by all of you. That far surpasses the original goal we set, and once again, leaves us speechless.

We asked for 500. You gave more.

We asked God to bless these efforts. And, He did more. He just doesn't stop.

And, that's not because of any of us.

It's because He loves these kids.

He is SET on restoring their land. I just feel it. I know it's coming. And, He is wasting no time.

THANK YOU to all of you who have resisted the desire to "let someone else do it". You've stepped up. You've stepped in. And, God is using you in mighty ways.

Isaiah 58 says we should "spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed."

Each of you who have donated to any of these efforts or have prayed for these children are doing just that.

Do you know what He says He will do for you as a result? "He will make your darkness LIGHT. He will GUIDE you always. He will satisfy YOUR needs. He will STRENGTHEN your frame."

May you be blessed for what you have given. I know these families on Lake Volta will be.

We have decided to leave this campaign open until we leave. We feel like God is doing something here, and that our small goal was just not what He had in mind. :)

We would love to blanket the entire Lake Volta region with malaria nets. We would love to be a part of the healing process for these people. So, continue to give...and we will continue to buy more nets!!

There are THOUSANDS of people to help on the lake in Ghana. We can do more. And, we will!!

I just read this in Isaiah 49 tonight, and I'm claiming it as truth for this impoverished region of Ghana, where trafficked children die every day.

I will restore the land, and reassign its desolate inheritances.

I will say to the captives, "Come out!" and to those in darkness, "Be free!"

They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.

They will neither hunger nor thirst,

nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them.

He who has compassion on them, will guide them

and lead them beside springs of water...

Shout for joy, O heavens.

Rejoice, O earth.

Burst into song, O mountains!

For the Lord comforts His people

and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.

Lord, may it be so, in the Lake Volta region! Set the oppressed free! Surprise us, amaze us, use us...and far surpass our limited goals and visions for this trip and for these people with Your great compassion and power on their behalf!!

174 and counting!

You all are AMAZING.

In one day, we have had $1,305 donated...

which will provide 174 malaria nets to kids and families on Lake Volta!!

That is just crazy exciting to me.

Let's do it again tomorrow!! Only 326 to go!

Let Me Back Up a Bit...

So, I just threw out a little blog post about being helpful at Halloween, and casually mention that we're headed to Ghana in three weeks. What is wrong with me?!

Boy did the emails start pouring in! SO sorry! I didn't even THINK about communicating more clearly about our upcoming trip! (Can you tell that my head is spinning these days?) And, I was excited about the Halloween ideas I discovered, and I just wanted to share them. :)

But, there is obviously more to say. And, more ways to help the kids in Ghana. Thanks to so many for asking!

We just finalized our flights this week, and we leave in three weeks. It's certainly been quick planning. But, it's coming together!

This trip will serve a few purposes:

• First, this will be a follow-up to the health screenings performed by Brad Gautney and his team in July. He will be returning to Ghana, with a medical team, to perform surgeries on the children most in need, and to continue treatment for all the others.
• Since we will obviously not be needed in surgery (ha!), we will spend all of our days ON the lake, where 7,000 children remain as slaves. We hope to reach out to the villages around the lake, where extreme poverty exists. We want to bring happiness to the children there, and make some relationships with the people in the area, to hopefully build bridges for future work in this region.
• We will get to visit the SWEET children that we spent time with this summer, but only for a couple of days. This is very hard for me, and I'm trying my hardest to be content with the days I will have with them. :) We are excited to see them again, and I'm daydreaming daily of the hugs and bald head rubs.
• While we are visiting the Touch a Life kids, we will get to SEE the land where Chase's Place will stand!! We are in constant prayer about this, and are hopeful that some good progress will be made on this trip. We can't wait to update you about that very soon!
• We are fortunate to have Jaron Pitts and his wife, Rebekah, along for this trip. Jaron is the talent behind our Chase video, and uses his amazing creative media skills for the church we attend. He has so willingly offered his videography services, and will be capturing life in Ghana in every way possible. We are so excited about this, and look forward to seeing the fruits of Jaron's work when we return!

So, as you can see, this is a very important trip. And, we are praying that God makes it exactly what He has planned.

I have to admit that I have mixed feelings about what lies ahead. I am so excited to be there again so soon. We didn't expect to get to do this just four months after our first trip. But, I'm also apprehensive about experiencing the lake...seeing the slavery and the poverty...with my own eyes. It will be hard in that way. But, so necessary. I pray that I will be a stronger voice for the children who wait for rescue after I've met them and seen them.

In my last blog, I mentioned the idea of saving Halloween candy for the kids in Ghana. And, we've already received such great response! I am always encouraged by the number of people who just jump in to help these kids in any way! And, they will LOVE their sweet treats!

But, yes, as many of you asked, there are other needs as well. We just talked with Brad Gautney today, to find out what he was hoping to have, and here is what we need:

We hope to deliver 1,000 mosquito nets to the islands around Lake Volta.

They are $7.50 each in Ghana.

We are raising funds for 500 of them through His Chase.

We KNOW the love and support for the people of Ghana runs wide and deep.

And, we have no doubt we can find 500 people to give $7.50.

Or, 250 people to give $15.

I know there are so many needs and so many things to give to, especially at this time of year.

But, how many opportunities do we have to give up a meal at Chick-fil-A or a large coffee from Starbucks and provide LIFE to a child or family? These mosquito nets are literally saving their LIVES. And, this is such a positive step in the right direction for the impoverished villages on Lake Volta.

If you'd like to contribute to the Mosquito Net Campaign, go HERE to donate. Select the Mosquito Nets option as you pay. And, remember that every penny will go to nets...and to preventing malaria, which literally kills thousands every day.

Also, if you or your family, small group or bible class would like to help in other ways, please email me! We are still needing donations of hygiene supplies, as well as "fun" dollar store items for the kids. And, just think...by running to Dollar Tree, you'll be providing happiness and health to kids who are STILL LIVING IN SLAVERY. What a blessing that will be.

May Jesus multiply our small little lunches, and provide abundantly enough for these kids, with baskets of leftovers!

Thank you, once again, for your ongoing support. We'd be lost without you.

A Helpful Halloween

It's hard to believe that Halloween is already here! I know at our house, that means we begin to anticipate a night full of costume fun and LOTS of candy.

So, since I know you are all wondering what in the world to do with all those sweets....

I have an idea for you!!

We are leaving for Ghana in three weeks, and will be spending most of our week visiting children who are still working as slaves on Lake Volta, as well as children who live in extreme poverty on the islands there.

They have nothing.

And, while we are planning to deliver mosquito nets, clothing, and medication to these families, we would also love to let them "be kids" like they so greatly deserve to be.

We need candy. LOTS of candy.

It can't be chocolate, because it will obviously melt in African temperatures.

But, it CAN be laffy taffy, tootsie roll pops, dum dums, smarties, sweet-tarts, and all the other things you get door after door after door next weekend.

If you are interested in collecting candy for us, and you live in the DFW area, we would love to fill a suitcase with the goodies! If you are able to contribute, email me at chelsea@hischase.org to find out who you can give it to. (We have someone in every area of the metroplex ready to be a candy packer for us!) And, thank you for passing along a little moment of happiness to these kids across the world. Oh, how a laffy taffy can bring a smile. :)

And, one other thought that I wanted to pass along on having a Helpful Halloween.

Our family certainly enjoys a good service project, especially at holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. But, I have NEVER even considered Halloween an opportunity to serve. I don't know why, since I'm going door to door all over the neighborhood.

But, a curriculum that I love, called Kids With Purpose, had the greatest idea that we will be doing with our own kids this year.

As you go to the neighbors' houses, carry an extra sack with you, and see if they would consider donating a canned good, in addition to the loads of sweets they are ready to shell out. I know I would gladly share my unused cans of peas or beans with a cute little fairy or pirate!

And, by the end of your trick-or-treating evening, you could have quite a donation for the hungry in our city.

Isn't that genius? Why didn't I think of that before?

I sure hope we have piles of this on Sunday:

Instead of mountains of this:

Well, actually, I want both. Because it can ALL be used for a good purpose this year!

Happy Helpful Halloween!!

Lost and Found 2010

(all pictures in this blog are courtesy of Angela, our talented photographer for the weekend!)

Four months ago, I was asked if I would tell my story at the ladies retreat at our church this last weekend. I said "yes"...because that's the deal I have with God now. I just say "yes" even when everything in me doubts my ability to do it. He's taught me again and again that I can trust Him.

As the months passed, the retreat's theme changed. The focus went from what God does with your losses, to what God calls us to do on behalf of His orphans and widows.

As you all know, there is NOT another topic around that makes me want to ramble on and on like our call to help orphans in this world. There is so much to say.

But, there was even more to say about my wonderful God, who has led me on this path, and guided my every step. I loved sharing His story, and listening to others' stories too. I loved the worship time, led by my favorite people. I loved the fellowship with Christian women. I loved that this entire gathering...from eating to singing to shopping...was all about God's call to take care of orphans and widows.

As we were decorating the night before, I was laying the His Chase brochures at the place where each woman would sit. All of a sudden, I was just overwhelmed with the sight. Every where I looked, I saw these faces...children I know and love.

And, I saw "His Chase" written all over the room.

Janice asked me "You didn't know you would be having a benefit dinner for these little ones did you?" I had NO IDEA that's what it would turn out to be.

And, I never expected the blessings that came from this weekend.

Everything about it was perfect...so uplifting and so fun. I think all of us who were there felt this amazing God moment was happening. And, now I can't wait to hear of what He will be doing in the lives of so many on behalf of His precious orphans.

My sister, Cassie, had her usual creative crafty touch on every table, and it was beautiful.

My other sister, Cortni, had her usual friendly, loving beautiful smile every time I turned around, as she sold these COOL shirts at our His Chase table.

And, she modeled them so well too!

(By the way, I am still ordering more 147 Million Orphans shirts because they practically sold out!! So, if you'd like one of your very own, check them out HERE, and then email me at chelsea@hischase.org! )

We worshipped with many of my very favorite songs. And, glorified the Lord for what He has done in each of us.

We spent time praying over these beautiful quilts handmade with love by the women of the Branch.

Each one is for a specific child in Ghana, rescued from their life as a slave. Now, instead of being "nobody special", they are being told how uniquely created they are, with a beautiful quilt of their very own, and their own individually selected scripture written on it. Absolutely beautiful.

Another beautiful part of the weekend: the Compassion booth!!

You probably all know my heart for Compassion, and I was so excited to hear that SEVEN sweet children were sponsored in the few hours we were together for Lost and Found! Seven children now have new life!! That alone is the best God story from the whole weekend. :)

I also got to meet a sweet mommy friend, Angel, who is also longing for her sweet baby boy, and spent the time to drive into town for the weekend. What an honor. I wish I had a picture with her. Angel, you blessed my weekend. I am praying for you always.

After speaking (and being nervous) on Friday night, I got to sit and relax at the feet of this amazing woman, Pam Cope, on Saturday. She has been such a significant part of my own journey this year. I told her that I was so humbled (and intimidated) by the fact that I shared the stage with her this weekend. How in the WORLD did that happen?!

I don't even know yet how much money was raised for the children in Ghana from this event, but at last count, it was several thousand!! The team of women who organized this event (this is only some of them!) were tireless.

They organized a mini-Canton shopping experience with the cutest vendors around, who were all generously donating to help orphans across the world!

The retreat committee also ran a silent auction AND a live auction, all benefitting Touch A Life, His Chase, and the Branch women's ministry.

Girls, what can I even say? You all inspire me to dream big, just like you did for this event! It was SO wonderful!! And, the hours you spent in preparation were blessed by God for sure.

I stand amazed, Lord....yet again.

If you are just joining us after this weekend, you can see more HERE. I was so blessed to be a part of this. (And, Angela, thank you for letting me use all of your amazing pictures. You are so talented!)

God, take our offering, and multiply it. Bless your little ones who so desperately need a voice. Keep breaking our hearts for what breaks Yours.

Saying Yes To God

If you attended the ladies retreat at The Branch this weekend, you know why I'm posting this. Hopefully from the time I spent blubbering at the microphone, you were able to see what Kay Warren's example has done to my heart, and how her book, Dangerous Surrender, changed my life.

I saw today on her website that she has re-released her book again, now titled Say Yes To God, with new insights and additional thoughts.

I also signed myself up for the 30 Day Adventure of Saying Yes to God, which is just a simple video encouragement every day. I have been CRAZY excited just after listening to the first two!

What perfect timing for all of us who spent the weekend praying for God's call to be made clear in our lives!! He is asking us to say "yes" even though we don't know the question or what He's going to ask us to do next. And, this is the perfect opportunity to take a step in that direction.

So, even if you weren't with us this weekend, will you consider taking this 30 Day Journey with the Lord?

I love Kay Warren. And, I love what God is doing in so many lives because of her surrender.

Go NOW and join. Get the emails. Read the book. You will be inspired and changed, I guarantee it.

More Cousin Lovin'!

Well, I missed the memo that I could let the cat out of the bag!

But, I was excited to see that my sister BLOGGED about her exciting news, so I can too!!!

Cortni and Adam are expecting their third sweet baby Henke in late April, and we are SO EXCITED about this precious one!!

I want you all to read her post. I love my sister's precious heart and we join her in praying for absolute health and happiness for this little one. As Cortni said, may every heartbeat...every breath...glorify the Lord. He is SO good to us!

She and Adam make THE cutest babies, so I can already picture this little one's face among these four.

I picture cheeks like these:

And, this face:

And, the biggest Henke squeeze hugs you can imagine. :) Oh my goodness, how I love being an aunt...again!!

Keep the cousin lovin' comin'!!

Teiko and AK

It is not surprising that the kids in Ghana are a constant subject in our house. The girls know them all by name, and they love to watch their videos from this summer, or for us to tell them stories....the SAME stories over and over. They sing their songs, they use a Ghanaian accent, they talk about "when they get to go meet the kids". It's just constant.

Well, Abby Kate is especially obsessed with Teiko. (pronounced take-o)

She even posed "like Teiko" for this picture. :)

Any time she draws a picture, it's for Teiko.

Every prayer she prays, includes Teiko.

When she talks about going to Africa (every day), she wants to visit Teiko.

She asks me to tell her the story of how Teiko stroked my face and said "You are my momma." (which she also said to all the other women on the trip. :) Teiko's a lover, as you can see by the hugs we all got from her:

Teiko also has a "silly" side to her that Abby Kate loves. Probably because she's just like her.

And, so the latest thing is: Abby Kate wants to BE Teiko for Halloween.

And, she is NOT kidding. I thought it would die down and we would just move on to the next idea. But, she hasn't forgotten. And, she doesn't understand why I've said "no"! She keeps saying "Please, Mommy, please. I be Teiko!"

Then, tonight, she called me on Daddy's phone, as they were at the pet store picking out a new fish for Pops' fish tank. I hear this little raspy voice on the other end of the phone say:

"Mommy, guess what? Guess what, Mommy? Guess what?!"

What, Abby Kate?

"I got a Africa Frog and her name is TEIKO!"

Yes, Abby Kate found an African Dwarf Frog and she instantly named it Teiko.

I think it's pretty appropriate, because I love Teiko's big eyes. You might could say they were froggish, which I mean in the cutest of ways. :)

So, just maybe Abby Kate will just be a FROG--named Teiko--for Halloween? Hmmm...

All I know is I can't WAIT for the day when Abby Kate finally gets to meet her Teiko. It will be a beautiful day for all involved.

CHASE Day Family Fun!

Your stories keep coming in and I love reading each and every one. We have heard about so many wonderful acts of kindness...everything from buying groceries for men in the military, to sending handwritten thank-you's or anonymous treats to people who don't expect it. Whether you were taking food to shut-ins, new moms, the homeless, your coworkers, or your child's teacher, you were being the hands and feet of Jesus. Oh, how inspired we are by all of you! And, more importantly, how glorifying this is to our God!

And like so many of you have said, it makes me want to be more intentional about reaching out to others on any regular old day.

In fact, we plan to borrow some of your ideas, as well as continue some of the things we did last week. All the little ways of thinking of others definitely need to "stick" in our family from now on.

One idea we had read in Kurt Warner's book "First Things First" was to decide as a family on someone to bless with a surprise meal when you're out to eat. This isn't an all-new idea, but it's certainly one that we've never done! We did this last week at Outback, as we watched an older gentleman eat his steak alone. I wish you could have seen the look on the faces of our girls, as they got increasingly excited about surprising this guy. I really think we walked by his table at least 8 times. (John and Cheri, he was truly a "Papa"...and we smiled as we thought of him.)

So, that was definitely something we have decided to do more often. It was a great way to have fun as a family, as we watched the blessing be handed to someone else. Something so simple. Yet, we've so easily forgotten and paid attention only to our own {usually crazy} mealtime...until now.

Another "first" for us was making and handing out "food packs" to homeless men or women we pass on the street.

Embarrassingly, this is something I've intended to do for months and months. We finally did it. And, I was in tears as I watched my husband bless these men like I never could have done. They were given food, but were also given encouragement. They were prayed with and talked to like they were real people. I'll be honest--this is not my strength. I never know what to do or say to help homeless people, and I was just so taken back by how easily Mark ministered to the people we met.

And, the girls have still not forgotten their names...or forgotten to pray for them. Once again, I learn another lesson from my children...and my husband. :)

I don't want to stop doing that either. We now have a box of meal packs in the back of the car. And, Carlie is constantly looking for someone to hand them to. (Even people who aren't homeless. :)

That has been my favorite part by far of CHASE Day...seeing my kids get excited about serving and surprising others. They planned quite a few ways to bless their friends, including surprise packages in the mail, surprise "door dropoffs" (which was HIGHLY exciting, as you can see here...)

and even a kidnapping. :)

Emily called me at the beginning of the week, and wanted to share an idea she had for Chase Day. She wanted to have a balloon release, but write on the balloons first, so Chase got birthday messages from all of us. I loved the idea, of course. So, we kidnapped Blake, Emily, and Ellie for a surprise balloon release and message writing party. It was SO sweet. Emily wrote "Dear Chase, I love you. This is the best day of my life."

She was SO excited and so sweet to think of this idea and do it with us. Way to go, Emily! I know Chase LOVED his balloons!

Another sweet group of kids did it up BIG for Chase Day too! The Sunshine School kids at the preschool where I worked for many years, and where many of my church friends attend also, made it CHASE Day for the whole preschool!

Each child brought $2, and gave one of those dollars to His Chase (which we collected over $400 from!!), and the other dollar went toward lunches for the homeless shelter in downtown. The kids decorated sandwich bags, lunch sacks, and made sandwiches for the people served by the shelter.

They also learned all about Africa in chapel, and prayed for the kids in Ghana. Oh my goodness....you already know where this is headed. Tears. I had more of them. Kids and their BIG hearts melt me. And, these sweet teachers who thought of this idea also melted me. Some of my best friends in the world. Thank you to all of you for making CHASE Day so special.

Here is the huge sign they made---isn't it cute!!

And, here is Kendyll setting up coffee and donuts for our FAVORITE teachers in the whole world!

It was such a Happy Chase Day at Sunshine School!

In the midst of all of this, we also spent time saying "thank you" to those who walked so closely beside us last year.

Mark and the girls got to surprise our amazingly gifted photographer, Amber, and deliver a little "thank you" to her house. I wish I could have been there, but I'm so glad the girls got to meet her, and show her Chase's video, which she was such a huge part of, since most of those pictures are hers!

We also brought treats to the Labor and Delivery nurses at my hospital to thank them for all the work they do!

(By the way, a total side story. The nurse kneeling down next to Carlie is the nurse who voluntarily heads up the Bereavement ministry of L&D. And, I ran into her in Canton the next day! I was looking at gift wrap and all of a sudden I hear "Excuse me, are you Chase's Mom?" Oh, those words were SO SWEET! I've never been asked that! I just smiled huge and said "YES, I am!!" Then, we talked for a while about how quickly the treats were eaten and how thankful we are for the work they do. It was such a little gift of a moment for me to be known as Chase's mommy. :)

Okay, that was a total tangent. We also brought a few copies of books to Marilyn, our sweet, sweet chaplain who cared for us SO well last year. We hope the books will bless other families for the journey they are on.

And, of course, we took treats to my doctor as well. It's always such a fun office to visit, and the girls enjoyed getting to see Dr. W and love on her for all that she does for us. We talked about how amazing it is that she delivered each of these girls so long ago!

While we were there, I also got to see "Chloe's Room", where families who have lost a baby can go and be comforted. I never visited last year, but my family spent time there. This is also where the sweetest people on earth leave keepsake things for the families. This is where Chase's blanket and hat came from....things I couldn't think of or pick out at the time. And, I'm SO glad Chloe's room had all that I needed.

One of Kendyll's good friends lost her baby sister two years ago, and has been donating little precious lovies ever since. Kendyll was so excited to see Ainsley's lovies when she walked in Chloe's Room!

And, we were excited to add a scripture canvas for those families who will be visiting this room in the future. Thanks to Laura and Angie, at Written On Your Heart, for designing the perfect canvas for these words of comfort.

Laura and Angie also designed a canvas that I gave my whole family and some close friends, that had one of the most significant verses for me through all of this. It was so nice to be able to say "thank you" with God's word for their homes. Thank you, girls, for making that happen for me!

By the way, look what ELSE they did for me!! :) I LOVE it!! It's already hanging!

Whew! After a full day, we got to see one more group of VERY special people...our family!

We had a fajita dinner at our house, with an "official" one year balloon launch in the yard.

Abby Kate even let her "#1" balloon go "up to Chase"! She picked this out at the store for him and called it "Chase is a Rock Star" balloon. I think she meant to say "All Star", but Rock Star sure was cute. :)

The kids planted Chase's Corner with new fall flowers, which involved alot of dirt throwing, of course!

These cousins are SO cute!!!

I did not get many pictures from the evening, but it was a wonderful, very relaxed night with our family. The perfect way to end CHASE day. :)