Mission complete - more blankets to Mali!

Rod, Malia and I met the missions team heading to Mali this Saturday, July 16.  We gave a short presentation and handed over the blankets.

Our prayers are with the team.  They have a difficult journey to get them to Koutiala.

Heavenly Father,  We lift up this team you have put together for just this mission.  We pray for safe travel. For all the bumps to be smoothed out before they even get to them.  We pray that each member have extra grace and love as they travel for many hours with new companions to a place that is so very different than home.   Lord pour out your spirit upon them as they become your hands and feet.  May your Holy Spirit give them all they need and more to finish the task you have prepared for them to do.  Thank You Jesus that you are already at work in their lives, real and tangible and thank you for what you are about to do.


In Jesus Name,  Amen

Thanks Team, for being apart of our ministry to the families of Koutiala.  God Bless!!

Serving Him in the Spirit,
Rod, Kathy and Malia

Psalm 126:5-6  Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.  Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

A "Singer" that still sows!!

About a month ago while Malia, Rod and I were at a dinner for the missionaries from the hospital in Koutiala, Mali, we met a woman who heard about our ministry.  We were talking to her about how we had had several women come to the  "block parties" who had never sewn or have not sewn in a very long time.  They were happy to help and with a little training they were sewing x's and taking kits home to make a blanket for a baby and mommy in Mali.   The woman asked if we could use another sewing machine to help with the ministry.  We said yes and she donated a sewing machine to help us make blankets and help other women to do the same.
Here is the interesting part of the story, the sewing machine was her sister's.  Her sister, an avid quilter and Christian, had used this machine for years.  Her sister had died of cancer within the past year and her sister's husband gave the sewing machine in hopes someone could be blessed...so she gave it to us.

This sewing machine is from the 1950's, I have ordered the instruction manual online.  We have tried the machine out and runs like a gem, Praise the Lord!!  Malia and I feel humble to be the vessels God is using to make blankets and pray for the families in Mali and the women who serve in this ministry.  Only God can use a young girl and some blankets to break the hearts of Christians and bring the lost to Himself.

Dear Jesus,  Oh what a sweet and tender God you are!  You are so creative, You are so compassionate and loving.  Lord bring comfort to this woman who gave this machine to us.   May you be glorified by the work that will be done with it.  May Your Name one day be praised by those who receive the blankets made in Your name.

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.  He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. In Jesus precious and Holy Name, Amen

Blankets for New Day Orphanage

God is so good to provide more opportunities to pray for the brokenhearted in Africa.  We are making blankets for orphans in Zambia, Africa.  New Day Orphanage in Mapanza, Zambia, is just getting off the ground.  They received their 1st 4 orphans this month (June'11).   Their little faces are so sweet and we just can't resist wanting to serve them in this very special way.  We are making 10 prayer blankets and 1 for the Zambian house mother. New Day's vision is to have 10 houses with 10 orphans in each.  Each house will have a Christian, Zambian mother who will be responsible for caring for the children, getting them and dressed for  school, doing their laundry by hand, bathing them, singing to them, praying with them getting them ready for and putting them to bed.  She will be their mother.  These children will stay at New Day orphanage all their school years.  They will be provided with 1) a biblical world view,2) Zambian culture and 3)an excellent education.  All of these things will make them leaders in their community one day.  (That is the prayer).  All along coming to know Jesus as their personal savior and receiving the love of  family in Christ.
We have had another block party and have handed out and received back 10 finished blanket kits as well as one blanket for the Zambian mother.   It has been such a joy to be apart of this project.  Having names and faces of the 1st 4 orphans has made the prayers even sweeter.  All the blankets have been bathed in love and prayer with blessing cards and photos of the seamstress/prayer warrior.
To find out more about New Day Orphanage go to  www.newdayorphanage.org   or www.tidwelladoption.blogspot.com.

Thank you to all who helped out on this project.  It was a quick turnaround and God was faithful to provide seamstresses and fabric to complete the project on time.  The blankets go to Kansas this week and the container they will be in, will go at the end of June.  Praise the Lord.
I pray the love of Christ will touch these children and change them from the inside out.  I pray these children will give their lives to Christ and in turn grow and mature to serve their country with love and compassion spreading the gospel to the whole continent of Africa.  In Jesus precious name Amen

New Day Orphanage summary of who they are...

 Prayer New Day Orphanage:

Who are they and what is their vision?

New Day Orphanage is in Mapanza, Zambia Africa

The orphanage vision is based on 3 principles:

1.        Christian World view

2.        Zambian Culture

3.        Quality Education

Here is a portion of a blog post by Blu Tidwell, one of the current missionaries at the New Day Orphanage:

“Where are we heading?  Consider this: It is estimated that there are 1,100,000 orphans right now in Zambia.  That is about 19% of the population 18 years old and younger.  The reality of being an orphan and providing for oneself is not pretty.  A typical child laborer will earn somewhere around $3 per month (Child prostitutes earn considerably more: $6.30 per night.)1  And even though there are other orphanages working in Zambia, it would take 11,000 orphanages housing 100 orphans each to meet the need that exists in this country.  On one hand, statistics like these make things seem hopeless.  On the other hand, however, there is a huge potential for the spread of the gospel. 

Early Christianity experienced tremendous growth, in part, because Roman law allowed for the abandoning of children.  Christians would take these orphaned children, care for them, and teach them the word of God.  It's a great example of God taking a horrible situation, and making something good from it. 

New Day Orphanage has a chance to do the same thing.  The concept isn’t difficult.  God’s desire is that believers care for orphans.  We live in a place where orphans abound.  You put the two together, and it’s fertile ground to see just how far God wants to take this ministry.  I really believe that the impact from what we do (And by “we” I mean all of us.  Those at home praying, architects designing buildings, volunteers who come and build, individuals and churches who are sacrificing to see this dream fulfilled), will be more than anything we can imagine.  It has the potential to change an entire nation.”

Profile of a child entering New Day Orphanage

Here is an example of the 1^st children to come to New Day from an excerpt from Darbi’s (Blu’s wife) blog:

“Sisi is 6 years old, and she is a double orphan. Her mom died when she was 9 months old and her father died 2 years ago, but she has been living with her aunt since her mom died. She is in Grade 1 (Kindergarten equivalent) and speaks NO English. The aunt and uncle who have been raising her are both HIV positive.

Muchoni is also 6 years old, and he is Sisi's cousin. His father died when he was 2 months old, and his mother, being young and having only one child, didn't want the responsibility and left him with the father's family, so he has been raised by his aunt. His mother is still living but has not lived with him since he was about one year old, making Muchoni a single orphan, or a double orphan due to abandonment.

Both children arrived with the clothes on their backs--no bag, no toys, and no extra clothes.”

A whole church prays...

Malia and I had the privilege to lead our church in prayer over the rag blankets that were to be sent to Mali, Africa on May 21st.   We had blankets on the tables where the congregation sat.  We invited them to lay their hands on the blanket, to consider the individual woman who would receive the blanket and her family.

As I looked out over the congregation (the Church)I saw whole families bowing their heads in prayer, hands laid on blankets and we heard the low murmuring of individuals praying.  We lifted up the women's physical and spiritual needs.  It was awesome!!  There was the presence of the Holy Spirit in that place.

Later that week 32 blankets were loaded on to a large cargo container which is headed to Mali. It should arrive sometime in August.





Rod, Malia and I had the opportunity to attend a dinner sponsored by our church,  Christ Community Church.  The event was in honor of the doctors, nurses and staff of the Koutiala Women and Children's Hospital.  It was such a blessing to meet such dedicated people, people who love the Lord and are walking in obedience.  These missionaries spoke of doors opening in Mali to the gospel. It is so exciting to be a small part of what is going on in Koutiala, Mali.

Thank You Jesus for what you are already doing and what you are going to do.  Amen.