Birthday Wish List

I know what you're thinking... "Abby, really? A birthday wish list? How old are you?" And, if you are thinking that, I can definitely understand why...but stick with me for a minute. Yes, it's true, in 2 short weeks, I will be turning 30...the big 3-0... WOW! I definitely don't feel 30, and everyone tells me I don't look 30...but that's a conversation for another day.

So, why the birthday wish list, then, right?! Well, I will tell you why... Ever since the Lord put it on my heart to go to Uganda, I knew this experience was going to be bigger than me -- so much bigger than anything I could imagine. Then, after serving in Uganda for 2 short weeks and experiencing everything that I was blessed to see and do, the Lord has continued to remind me of the importance of missions in Africa, and in particular, the importance of the work of Jason and Kari Segner and the ministry He is helping them lead, Healing Faith.


Jonathan and I giving de-worming medicine to children in one of the villages. It only takes $1.20 to keep a child FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR free from dangerous parasites found in polluted drinking water that can lead to malnurtition and even death if gone untreated.

Look at all of these beautifully happy faces! Do they steal your heart like they've stolen mine?

During the last week, as we enter final preparations for the 2nd Annual Healing Faith benefit (the primary fundraising/support event for the Segners), the Lord has pressed on me that I need to do something more -- give something of myself...which brings me to my birthday wish list... It's simple really:

30 for 30 in 30

That's 30 people donating $30 in 30 days.

We will start today -- 2 weeks before my birthday, and continue until 2 weeks and 2 days after my birthday. That's a total of 30 days (from October 24th through November 23rd). I'm hoping that instead of buying me gifts or dinner, or maybe even instead of buying yourself Starbucks or ice cold coca-cola for a couple days, you'll donate that money to Healing Faith instead. Trust me, I absolutely know how difficult it can be to come up with $30, and if that's the case for you, then rally 2 friends to join you, so that the 3 of you can donate $10 each for a total of $30 between the 3 of you. I think this would be a marvelous representation of the power of 3 exhibited throughout the Bible and represented by the Holy Trinity.

Now that I hopefully have you hooked (or at least committed to continue reading), I bet you're wondering how you donate... It's also really simple!  :)  Visit the Healing Faith donation page on their website:  http://www.healingfaithuganda.org/donate/ and follow the instructions outlined there as well as the weblink to the donation site. Because I am hoping you will donate straight to Healing Faith (no fees, etc. are assessed by donating online -- so they will get your full donation), feel free to comment on this post, send me a text or facebook message, or give me a call to let me know how much you donated. I would love to know if I reach the goal the Lord has placed on my heart -- 30 for 30 in 30 (or $900 if you aren't a math fan!).

Here are a few more photos of the wondrous work the Lord has asked the Segners to help with in the beautiful country of Uganda:


Kobasinja...the little girl who was severely burned...and whose healing experience has truly been a miracle. Read more here:  http://www.healingfaithuganda.org/stories-from-uganda/miracle-child/

Jason provided some relief for this little one who he thinks had chicken pox.

 

An elderly man in one of the villages.

Who doesn't love a good round of the Hokey Pokey?! We did this a couple times while out on home visits. The kids absolutely loved it!

Look at this little tiker helping haul bricks during the clinic clean-up day (aka Uganda Big Event) in Mafubira!

Here are a few verses I would like to leave you with so you can think and pray about how the Lord would like for you to join with me in fellowship to support Healing Faith...

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need."  ~Acts 4:32-35~

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory int he church and in Christ Jesus throught all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  ~Ephesians 3:20-21~