One Week!!!

SO, we leave for Russia exactly 1 week from today, so I thought it fitting to post about some of the things we're super exicted about!!!

- This is the biggest team we've taken thus far, and there are 4 new friends traveling with us to meet these sweet people and children that we have come to know and love! I can't wait for them to get to experience what we've had the blessing of experience for so many trips now!

- We are staying at the Transition Home! What's the transition home, you ask? Well it is part of a ministry of one of the local bible teaching churches there. Orphan graduates can live there after they graduate from the orphanage. They participate in bible studies and work projects. We will be staying there for the majority of our time in Russia... this is so exciting because we'll get to hang out with many of the graduates that live there! :)

- Retreat!!!!!! For the first time, we are taking a big group of orphan graduates on a retreat! We will be away from the city for a few days with them. We will be talking about identity in Christ! I am so excited for them to hear all about who they are in Christ!

- Friends! We have made some sweet sweet friends over the years, and we definitely always look forward to seeing them on trips like this!!

- The Orphanage! We have permission to visit the orphanage for 4 days, and we will be putting on a camp for the children there! We were not allowed to visit the orphanage last year, we only were allowed to bring some of the children into the city, so we haven't actually taken a team there in a while! I am very excited to see all of the children we've grown to love and also meet all of the new faces there!

We are so excited for what the Lord has in store! We will hopefully be updating with prayer requests before we leave! We'd love your prayer support for these sweet kids and graduates!

Quarters of Hope...

It's that time again, we're going back to Russia. Rewind: We went over spring break to two new orphanages, and had an absolutely wonderful experience and I just realized that I never got to update about that trip! I will post soon, because God did some AMAZING things there and I am excited for where He is leading us.

Ok, so back to present time -- we're going back to the orphanage that we started sponsoring in 2007, and we cannot wait to see all of our sweet kids! We've heard that there has been a lot of turn over there in the past year or so and that means there will be a LOT of new faces that we haven't gotten to meet. We were able to 'drop in' over spring break and say hello to some of the children we've grown to love, and I can't wait to see them all again in June.

One of the main things that the Lord always teaches me during this time is trust. Honestly, most of it deals with finances, and getting the funds to be able to go do to this ministry. It is always such a character builder -- and each trip, the Lord really teaches me more and more about honestly trusting in Him.

This year I did a '$10 for Hope' challenge on Facebook. I created an event and my goal was to see if I could get 250 people to commit $10 for Russia Missions (Each team member was asked to raise about 2,500 for trip costs and costs and ministry expenses). Though I did not make it to 250, many many people gave and the Lord has provided the amount of money I need to make this trip. He is GOOD!

In the meantime, I have encountered a few great stories, and I wanted to share some of them with you because they really encouraged me.... they are from completely different ends of the spectrum, but both impacted me in a huge way.

#1) One night I was at our college bible study, and we were about to get started when a young friend came up to me and said that she had received my '$10 for Hope' invite on Facebook. She said that she had a lot of friends going on mission trips this summer and that the Lord had really laid it on her heart to give to the ministry that was going on... she asked me how much more money I needed (which at the time was about $1,500). She then told me that she had gotten some grants for her school this semester, and she still had a good amount left that she felt called to just 'give'.... she went out to her car and handed me a check for $400. I couldn't believe it. I think I was in shock at the moment... and even now, I think of how sacrificial it is for a college student to give $400. I still am amazed at the sacrificial heart of this sweet girl, and how she chose to give that money instead of use it for the million other things that could have come up... Man, I pray for a sacrificial heart like that.

#2) During the whole '$10 for Hope' thing, I would get things in the mail pretty often, because that is how most people would send their donation. A few days after I got the check mentioned above, I checked the mail and received a envelope from a childhood friend. She is married, and also has a little boy who is very young. I have kept up with this friend only through Facebook, and I have been excited to see that she is growing in her walk with the Lord, but we hadn't talked that often. I opened the envelope and there was 9 one dollar bills, and 4 quarters taped to a piece of notebook paper. Quarters of hope. On the notebook paper it said, "Sorry about the change, money is really tight right now. Hope this helps." At that moment, tears ran down my face. I couldn't believe the sacrificial heart of this friend. That $10 was a huge sacrifice, and I could feel the weight of what that meant to her and her family. Again, I pray for a sacrificial heart like that.

So, in both cases, I saw a great example of sacrificial love. Each sweet friend sacrificing in a different way, but bringing glory to God in an amazing way and reminding me what this whole thing is about.... showing Christ to others. They both did that for me, and I am grateful.

Our team will leave for Russia on June 13th, and I cannot wait! We need about $4,600 total for each person to reach their fundraising goal -- and I know God will provide!

All I have to do is remember those quarters, and how those and so many other $10 donations added up to get me to the fundraising total I needed. 

Spring Break Videos Video!

Here are some moments from our Spring Break trip that we caught on video... they are pretty silly, but too fun to watch!

Fundraiser Necklaces

Hey friends! WE'RE GOING BACK TO RUSSIA!!!!


Thea team from my church and I will be traveling back to Russia in June to visit some graduates, and hopefully an orphanage, and continue to bring the good news of Christ to the people there! We CANT WAIT!!!


One thing though -- going means we need the support to get there!! That's where you come in! :) We have a few different ways you can support our trip, but the latest is these necklaces! Erin & I make them, and we are selling them for $15 each to raise support!!


Here are some examples of necklaces that we have made! We make ALL different types... different colors, designs, etc. Also, on some of them we put the russian word for either 'faith', 'hope', or 'love'.... what a great way to remember these sweet kids in Russia and to be reminded to pray for them!! Also, we can customize text on them, so if you want something specific, we can do it!!!! Just note that when you order:)


We are so very excited to see what the Lord has in store for this upcoming trip!! Thank you all for your support!!

Just like with our T-Shirts, you can order online!! :) Be specific with what type of necklace you would like, and we will ship it to you! Above you can see some of the different designs that we can make :) There will be a small addition for shipping though!

You can order below!!!

Necklace Options

necklace w/ no text $15.00 necklace w/ Russian word for 'hope' $15.00 necklace w/ Russian word for 'love' $15.00 necklace w/ Russian word for 'faith' $15.00 necklace w/ custom text $15.00

Color Scheme

Blue Black Pink Purple Brown Green Yellow Orange Grey

Enter customized wording here

Other comments:)

$10 for Hope

Russian Orphans and Orphan Graduates are in desperate need of hearing the hope of Christ!

They have stolen my heart, and I have the opportunity to travel back to Russia in June, but I need YOUR help! :) We just got back from a GREAT trip over spring break, but it's time to start getting ready for June!

What can you use $10 for?
- a few trips to Starbucks?
- eating dinner at Chili's?
- buying that CD you want from iTunes?


OR

You can use $10 to help give hope to an orphan in Russia. I think that $10 goes way farther:)

I will keep track as we go and we will see how far we can get!

The goal: Get 250 people to pledge to give $10... You can send it to me at

735 FM 980
Huntsville, TX 77320

If you send a check, you can make it out to University Heights Baptist Church!! It will go straight towards our June trip to Russia...

Will you join me in sharing the love of Christ with these sweet children in Russia?

We're at zero.... lets see if we can get the thermometer up to 250!!!!!!!!! :)

Fundraising Ideas

Recipe for Russia...

We are leaving for Russia on Thursday, and as we pack our supply luggage, and I begin to pack my belongings into a suitcase for the millionth time... I have been pondering what really are the 'must-haves' that go into making a trip to Russia to visit these sweet orphan kids... in no particular order

1. Camera - I can't imagine these trips without being able to bring back the memories of the sweet faces that we've met. I have captured so many moments on camera and sometimes I just look back through them and cry remembering what the Lord has done, and is doing through the people we meet...

2. Backpack - My handy-dandy backpack has made this trek with me every time I've gone to russia... it's been through summers winters and all over the Ryazan region! It is smudged with soil from country I've come to love.

3. Journal - The time flies SO fast on these trips... light speed. One morning it's our first day in Russia, and the next it seems we're already getting on a plane home. God has been SO faithful in putting TONS of opportunities in our path and each day is more packed full of grace than the next. It's times like those that it's so important to write down each day what the Lord has made happen! Looking back at all the miracles that God has done is amazing.

4. Some good shoes - These trips take you everywhere -- city, country, mud, ice, snow, etc... Gotta have a good pair of shoes to make the trip! Especially this time -- got my snow boots and I'm ready for that Russian winter!

5. A flexible and moldable spirit -- I am a very 'schedule' and 'to do' oriented person. Each trip I have to pray especially hard that the Lord would make me moldable and flexible. He has SO much in store that we could never 'plan' for the amazing things to come... and it is HUGE that we're ready for whatever opportunity arises even if it wasn't in our original plan ;)

6. Some broken Russian - Definitely a humorous part of our recipe. No matter if it's just a few words here and there in Russian, or if you just try our your 'Russian accent' *cough* Ricardo *cough* :) it always adds a ton of laughter to our travels!

7. Great friends and teammates - Whether they're Russian or American, it's amazing to see the bonds and friendships that form during trips like these. I always look forward to seeing people we've grown to be friends with over the past few years!

8. Yellow, Black, White, Red, and Green Beads - though apart they are just 'craft supplies' together they tell the story of my Savior, and how He died for me and saved me from so much. These beads tell the story of Christ, and remind us of His love for us....

9. My Sword - definitely a must have for any believer  - our sword... the love letter that our Father wrote to us. It is so important for us to spend time seeking the Lord on a daily basis, and especially in the midst of a trip like this - to let the Lord direct us through His word and remind us of why we take these trips at all....

10. A good playlist - 12 hours on a plane and 3 on a bus would pass by SO much slower without some good playlists with some Lecrae, B. Reith, Relient K, Shane & Shane and so much more... (I may even throw in some Bieber every now and then hehe!) but it is definitely a must have!

Now that I have the essentials -- I better go get packing! Stay tuned for updates and ways you can pray!

What's my life if I'm not praising you...

I think these lyrics speak for themselves... very powerful. 


Lecrae - Boasting


 If this life has anything to gain at all 
I count it lost if I can't hear you, feel you, 
'cause I need you. Can't walk this earth alone. 
I recognize I'm not my own, so before I fall 
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone. 

With every breath I take, with every heart beat, 
Sunrise and the moon lights in the dark street. 
Every glance, every dance, every note of a song. 
It's all a gift undeserved that I shouldn't have known. 
Every day that I lie, every moment I covet 
I'm deserving to die, I'm just earning your judgment. 
I, without the cross there's only condemnation. 
If Jesus wasn't executed there's no celebration. 
So in times that are good, in times that are bad, 
For any times that I've had it all I will be glad. 
And I will boast in the cross. I boast in my pains. 
I will boast in the sunshine, boast in his reign. 
What's my life if it's not praising you. 
Another dollar in my bank account of vain pursuit. 
I do not count my life as any value or precious at all. 
Let me finish my race, let me answer my call. 

If this life has anything to gain at all 
I count it lost if I can't hear you, feel you, 
'cause I need you. Can't walk this earth alone. 
I recognize I'm not my own, so before I fall 
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone. 

Tomorrow's never promised, but it is we swear. 
Think we holding our own, just a fist full of air. 
God has never been obligated to give us life. 
If we fought for our rights, we'd be in hell tonight. 
Mere sinners own nothing but a fierce hand. 
We never loved him, we pushed away his pierced hands. 
I rejected his love, grace, kindness, and mercy. 
Dying of thirst, yet, willing to die thirsty. 
Eternally worthy, how could I live for less? 
Patiently you turn my heart away from selfishness. 
I volunteer for your sanctifying surgery. 
I know the spirit's purging me of everything that's hurting me. 
Remove the veil from my darkened eyes. 
So now every morning I open your word and see the Son rise. 
I hope in nothin, boast in nothin, only in your suffering. 
I live to show your glory, dying to tell your story. 

If this life has anything to gain at all 
I count it lost if I can't hear you, feel you, 
'cause I need you. Can't walk this earth alone. 
I recognize I am not my own, so before I fall 
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone. 
 
Glory was solely meant for you, doing what no one else could do. 
With All I have to give, (With all I have to Give) I'll use my life, I'll use my lips.  
I'll only glory in your Word. What gift to me I don't deserve. 
I'll live in such a way that it reflects to you my praise. 
 
If this life has anything to gain at all 
I count it lost if I can't hear you, feel you, 
'cause I need you. Can't walk this earth alone. 
I recognize I am not my own, so before I fall 
I need to hear you, feel you, as I live to make my boast in you alone.