Hope. Believe. Obey.
Posted on April 28th, 2010.I recently (as in when I started typing this) discovered I like to use the phrase “I’m so excited . . . ” a lot when I have something to share. But the truth of the matter is I am so excited to share what is on my heart! For quite some time I have known that there is a calling on my life (I’m talking about the Lord here 
). I knew the Lord had a specific task/ministry/mission/whatever your favorite catch phrase is for me to do. I just wasn’t sure what it was. As I’ve grown in my relationship with the Lord the desire for me to uncover this special purpose grew greater and greater. So over the last few months I have been on a journey of praying and seeking, listening and stepping and finally I have clarity about the direction He is taking me. The Lord has placed a burning passion in my heart to minister to and care for orphans. You might be thinking, “but you already have 4 children, why don’t you leave some for the rest of us” and that would lead me to James 1:27 in which we are ALL commanded to care for orphans (regardless of how many kids you already have). This passion the Lord has given me is a journey not only for myself but also for our family. It will involve our children and teaching them to love and care for the fatherless as well! So, I don’t know what this all looks like (what I’ll be doing this time next year, etc.) but I do know Who does and that if I just keeping seeking and stepping in faith He’ll keep me on His path. So that’s what I’m doing. Right now.
Step one is a big one. Bill and I will be going on a short-term mission trip to China in August of this year with Show Hope. We will spend ten days volunteering and building relationships with the beautiful children of China. The majority of our time will be spent at the Show Hope project, Maria’s Big House of Hope, a six-story care facility specifically for special needs orphans located in Luoyang, China. Activities will include small work projects on the grounds of Maria’s Big House of Hope, as well as spending time interacting with the children and babies. We also hope to spend one day of our trip investing in the lives of older orphans at the local, state-run orphanage. We both feel that the Lord is going to use this trip to do many things in our hearts and also give us a greater vision for the work He is calling us to.
We would like to ask that you partner with us in prayer as we set out on this exciting journey. We want to be obedient to whatever He calls us to. As with any ministry endeavor there are always costs associated. In order for us to go on the trip in August we will be raising financial support to cover the expenses of the trip. Any additional funds raised will be donated to Show Hope. Our first fundraising project is t-shirts!! You can support us financially and partner with the ministry God is calling us to by purchasing a t-shirt right here! In order for us to go on this trip we have to raise $9,000 (total) in a very short amount of time! The first portion ($1,000) is due on May 7th! Yes, that’s next week (I am aware)! So in order to raise the first portion of the money we would like to ask you to please pre-order your shirt NOW! We will begin shipping approximately May 17th so pre-order today! And after you order yours please forward this info along to all of your friends and family too! We look forward to keeping you updated on this new journey and we greatly appreciate your love, prayers and support.
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girl as if i didn’t know before this that we were soul sisters. love you guys! SO excited to see what the Lord does with this vision.
I KNEW IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH KIDS!!
I want a red shirt with the above logo on it. ;~)
As a mom of 3 adopted children and 1 biological, I am pleased as pie that God has placed this calling on your life and you are acting in obedience. I will be lifting you and your family in prayer and am excited (I use that word all the time too) to see the results of your obedience. Obedience unto the Lord always brings favor. Was the road sometimes long and laborious during our process of adopting 3 children? Of course. But the 3 beautiful faces that Look at me with live everyday and call me Mommy is more blessing than I could ever imagine. Adoption is my passion! Would live to chat with you sometime and help in anyway I can.
So excited!
Dearest of Friends, I LOVE you, I LOVE your heart, and I cannot wait to get a shirt!!!!!
Would love to buy a shirt and support you … Love how God is working in your lives and confirming His plan at every turn!
Praying for you all! What an inspiration you are to me. xo
I am so excited to have found your site. God has used you to encourage me in my own jouney to adoption. We have 3 kids and God is leading us to adopt 2 more (1 with special needs) and everyone thinks we’ve lost our minds. It’s difficult to move forward knowing that no one is with us. BUT we are certain it is the right thing for our family. Thanks for the encouragement to push on. We are terribly excited about our own little journey and I was so blessed today in reading about yours. Thanks for sharing and keep us posted. May God bless your beautiful family so richly as you faithfully serve Him!
Hi Kelli,
I’m actually Kelli Jones too. I just found you this morning doing a search on my name to see if my company website came up very early in Google. Anyway, I just started reading about the trip you’re taking with you husband and the purpose God has given you to get excited about. I’ve been on a similar journey for a few years and enjoyed reading about yours. While I don’t think I’ve found “my purpose” quite yet, I know I’ve found some smaller ones along the way. I have a girl from Lebanon who came to live with me so she could get a college education and help her 3 little sisters who have been left for her grandparents to raise and for my 40th birthday I held a fundraiser to help three orphaned boys I met in Zambia, Africa go to college. Anyway, I just wanted to encourage you on your journey, buy a few of your t-shirts, and let you know what fun it was that God connected us with our names and with our journeys.
Best wishes on your trip! Thanks for sharing!
hi! i got your comment, but i can’t find an e-mail. could you e-mail me? thanks!