The Young Family Farm »

While I really wanted to tell you all about Richard’s fried green tomatoes and his to-die-for dipping sauce…that will have to wait. I just had to share my precious friend Asher’s ministry with you. Asher and I go way back when we were both photographers. She is in North Carolina and I’m a Georgia peach…but we were introduced to one another by a photographer in Alabama. Asher and I were both supposed to attend a workshop–and Drew had to have last minute surgery and she couldn’t come. (I THINK that is how it happened…right Asher?!)

So first of all—you must know Drew and Asher…As you can tell…they are a really hip, cool couple. (On a side note–they have chickens in their backyard…which Rico Suave thinks is so cool…and the first time we met–she brought me chicken eggs! You gotta love Asher and Drew!)

So…Asher and I started emailing and stayed in touch via the photography circuit. While I dove into Wiphan Care, she and Drew were diving into foster care. And the more we did orphan care–the less we focused on our photography. Later–Asher emailed me about Wiphan…wanting to know more–the Lord was stirring something on Asher’s heart with Africa–yet she didn’t quite know what yet. As time went on, Asher dug more and as she researched and studied Africa and the plight of orphans and widows…and a few months later–the Lord really set a purpose before her– and Sole Hope was born.

Because of our crazy connection and our need in Ndola, Asher’s first trip to Africa was to Wiphan in Ndola, Zambia. She went for the first time in late May/early June…and she is now gearing up ANOTHER trip for THIS DECEMBER! Sole Hope has a heart and vision to care for orphans and widows by first meeting their needs for shoes–and while she was at Wiphan and saw that our Wiphan ladies could use a solid skill that will enable them to actually make their own shoes—but they will ALSO be able to sell them. Asher and the December group will be going over to TEACH the ladies at Wiphan how to MAKE and SELL shoes–and their plan is to have 2 team members actually STAY for a month or so and finish out training.

She is ALSO working on a children’s book that will educate they WHY it is so important for them to wear closed toe shoesYou will see some walking around with cardboard and tape wrapped around the feet to function as shoes. And how many shoes to I have in my closet??? I’ll say Africa has definitely changed my shoe buying that is for sure!

RIGHT NOW…Sole Hope is doing a shoe drive to help raise money for the kids and widows shoe program. You know I can’t say enough about our beautiful children in Zambia—but sit back and see their beauty as Asher captured them and a little spotlight into her vision and ministry ahead here. They are asking for $25 donations (and they are praying for a donation per child and widow) which will ultimately go toward the supplies to start this trade at our tradeschool—the materials along with a machine to help make the shoes. You can visit the Sole Hope website and blog to learn more. (Please feel free to share their video about their vision and hope!)

Asher and Drew have two beautiful children Quinn and Asa–and they are finalizing their home study now for an Ethiopian adoption. You can visit their family blog at www.toysinmycoffee.blogspot.com

Maybe I’ll finally get to tell you all about the melt-in-your-mouth fried greens tomorrow. We have occupational therapy and feeding therapy…that’s a good 2 hours of therapies…which will be interesting with Frank tagging along since they were unable to do these two on the days Frank goes to preschool. Our physical therapy is thankfully on Wednesday this week though! AND my blog is MY therapy after all these therapies;). Hope you all had a great Labor Day Weekend…and oh my goodness–did you guys have the beautiful weather we did?! FALL IS IN THE AIR!!! (my Fall wreath totally went on my front door this weekend!) XOXO!

Andrea

There are a few things that keep me up at night. One is Isaac Temesgen Young of course;-). The other is thinking about the reality for orphans, widows and the poor throughout the world. When I became a believer at age 18, the Lord quickly grabbed my heart for the poor—and I feel like He’s kept me up at night ever since. BUT–isn’t that the way it should be? And now that I’m a mother—every time I look into the eyes of my own children…I can’t help but think–of THEM.

A few weeks ago, I started thinking about the little girls Laney’s age—who should be going to sleep at night without worry…without fear. Watching my little girl–in her Ariel pjs, stack of books beside her waiting for me to read…and of course the request for her goodnight song…all part of her nightly routine. And then–I try to picture a nightly routine for one of the girls at Wiphan’s school. Sure they are well protected in Wiphan’s school walls—but what about after we send them home? I have walked the compound in Ndola, and if you were to tell me for just one night Laney would spend the night with the other children there–I have to confess something: I. Would. NOT. be. okay. with that. To put her in the middle of this…and just hope that she sleeps soundly…to hope that she can sleep on the dirty mud ground…that she’d be able to sleep…to hope that during the rainy season a malaria infested mosquito doesn’t bite my baby girl’s skin…or that the drunkard wandering the path skips the house she is in…I then begin to pray, “Oh Lord–please protect Wiphan’s children.”

As I reflected more and more on this—I began to get really distracted each night as I did my nightly routine…locking my doors…turning on my alarm in this safe community and area in which I live. Brushing my teeth–quite a luxury that most don’t have. And then–I begin to feel a litle guilty. And even sad. Why is it okay for me to lock my doors, sing a goodnight song and peacefully go to sleep and not do something about the safety of someone else’s little girl across the world? I mean–really, is she MY responsibility? If it isn’t mine–then whose is it? Because—the truth is…that many of these little girls and boys are orphans. Whose responibility are they anyway?

Many of Wiphan’s orphans are being housed by family friends and relatives…and many times–the widow or friend they are living with has to leave days on end to find work in the city. That’s just the way life goes. The older ones take care of the younger ones…and this is reality…

I sat here and tried to THINK of the biggest thing my little girl has to fear at night. Okay–so I came up with thunder. I makes me shutter to think about what the little ones across the world have to fear…as I am quite sure thunder is the least of their worries. Then…comes rainy season from November to April…and Zambia, as you may know, is effected by malaria more than most any country in the world. Because malaria mosquito only bite at night, this is another worry added to their night time. Things I just don’t think a little one should worry about…all of the things they have worry about are REAL–and they can all be life changing…ending in malaria, AIDS, pain, hunger, loneliness…the list goes on.

Wiphan Care Ministries serves 450 orphans and 150 widows. Currently, they get to come to school for free and receive a meal. For many, it is their ONLY meal. And then–we send them home. Then the dark comes…and I just hope and pray they are safe. Really—when I begin to REALLY think about them…all of the sudden, for me–it’s just not okay for me to NOT do something. Anything. I can’t explain it–but I feel like in a miraculously crazy way—these little ones are also part of our responsibility. And at Wiphan Care Ministries—we want to help protect them not just while they are in our care–but while they are away. And this is how…

Today, we want to introduce to you our next mission: Operation Silent Night. We say “operation” because it is a mission we want to take seriously…as if these children were our OWN. Because they ARE His…and I believe, as believers, in some ways they are ours too. Operation Silent Night’s goal is to provide our students a safe, silent night by giving them a lock & chain for their doors (intruders are going to be less likely to bother them if entering is too much trouble), a mosquito net, a foam mattress pad with sheeting and a reed mat which will keep the mattress clean from the dirt on the ground. We will be buying these in country in bulk–so each Silent Night kit will cost just $45. You can join our operation here: www.wiphan.org/shop/operation-silent-night

Will you prayerfully consider joining us in helping protect our students? Will you consider sharing this project or slideshow on your blog or facebook? (PLEASE PAUSE MUSIC ON TOP OF PAGE BEFORE WATCHING)

Special thanks to Shannon Holden of Shannon Holden Photography for her photography–and for traveling across the world to invest in Wiphan Care Ministries.

P.S. Another thank you to the MANY readers who are joining in Project 1 for “It’s a Girl Thing”. As promised, I will have more details on my blog later this week. What an honor it is to do ministry with so many of you. Thank you for stepping out and up to the plate to be used for the glory of God. May He bless each of you as you work on this project…and also the many of you who join us in Operation Silent Night. As always, thank you for sharing with your friends, small groups, churches and family. If you are interested in becoming more involved in an orphan/widow ministry, please visit www.wiphan.org