My heart is already in Kenya

Over the past few weeks, as Jarred and I have begun raising support for our Feb. trip to Kenya, I've been constantly scouring the Internet to read more about deaf orphanages and schools. Each new article or website I come across encourages me and leaves me heartbroken at the same time. I'm thrilled when I read about the people who are working hard to give these children the love, education, and support they need. But in the same sentence I usually read more about the neglect and abuse that hundreds of thousands of other kids with disabilities are going through without the resources available to help them. Precious children without the ability to communicate who are being locked in their homes, raped, and tied to trees left for wild animals. My mind can't even wrap around the horrible injustices these children are experiencing. I want to hold each one of them, rock them back and forth, and tell them about how Jesus made them special, and he cares for them even when the whole world is against them. February can't come soon enough...

"Defend the weak and fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

-Psalm 82: 3-4

One of the many articles I've read: http://this.org/blog/2009/10/19/kenya-deaf-school/

Art Raffle for Africa

As a way of raising money for our upcoming mission trip to Kenya, Jarred and I are happy to announce an "Art Raffle for Africa." In the coming months we'll be raffling off this gorgeous, handmade stained glass flower mosaic. It's encased in an antique window frame and would be the perfect addition to any screen porch or bay window. It's valued at over $300 and was created by local South Carolina artist Kathy Dublin. Kathy went with me on my first trip to Kenya back in 2007 and is going back herself this fall.

Entries into the raffle are $10 each. For donations greater than $10, you'll be entered once for every multiple of 10. Twice for a $20 donation, 3 for $30, etc. The winner will be announced on Dec. 1st. There will also be 2nd and 3rd place prizes which will be revealed in the coming weeks.

100% of all money from raffle entries will go towards funding our trip. You'd like to enter, please email me at maryellen.callura@gmail.com, and I'll reply with our address. If you'd like to donate to our trip without entering the raffle, simply include that in your email to me. You can read more about what we'll be doing in Kenya on my previous post "A Smile is the Same in Any Language." Thank you so much for your support!