Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from "Our Street" to yours!
ELMO aka Phisher
Ernie aka Parker and Big Bird aka Paeton
C is for Cookie, Cookie Monster aka Phelix

Dig Deep | Our Glimmer of Hope

Well, it is officially, official! I am so excited to announce the DIG DEEP well fundraising page with A Glimmer of Hope is up and running. Please click on the link below to read how God put this DIG DEEP project on Rob and Julie's hearts. As you know, the Lord reconnected Julie and I this summer after we graduated from college 18 years ago. I never could have dreamed that she and I would both have adopted 2 boys from rural, southern Ethiopia. As a new college grad with the world by the tail this was just not in my plan. But that is why this is so special to me, it is not about me and my plans, it is about HIM and HIS plans for my life. Oh, how He has changed me, and oh how I have been resistant and not at all a good student at times. But even when it must seem impossible to HIM that I will give up my control and yield to His ways he never gives up on me. I am so thankful that my family has fully embraced DIG DEEP. We are committed to serve right along side the Neal family to see clean life-giving water provided for our brothers and sisters in Chukko. When I am using the gifts He has provided to me and caring for 'the least of these', it is there that He meets me. Together with my King is where I want to be. Won't you join us? Come serve Him and meet Him. . . DIG DEEP! Dig Deep | Our Glimmer of Hope

and the winner is . . . . .

DIG DEEP fundraiser, Friday October 8, 2010. La Croix Church, THE PORCH
Preparing for Build a Bear Adoption
Omni Peace, DIG DEEP and Africa table. Juicy Couture purse table behind.
Hair bows and head bands by Paeton
HOW? jewelry and Heart for Africa Missionary, Karen Ward
Lovely purse models: Brittany, Josie, Rachael, Paeton and Riley!

This is the live video footage of volunteer extraordinaire, Chrisy, drawing for the winners of the purse raffle. The first purse drawn for was donated by my fabulous friends who own "RESALE ROW", Nationally Recognized Designer Resale. They have 4 stores you MUST visit if you are not already a preferred customer, so you can become one! Women's Closet Exchange, Clique for teen and young adults, PURPLE COW a high end children's and maternity boutique and last but not least, The Exchange, St Louis' largest and finest consignment furniture store. They are located at 11575 Gravois.

The first purse we drew for was a new Marc Jacobs purse, pink leather, with the Nieman Marcus price tag still attached, retail price, $750! and the winner is. . . Jennifer Harris! Congratulations Jennifer!

As you already know, the next purse we drew for was for the white leather, Salvatore Ferragamo purse donated and signed by Angelina Jolie. and the winner is. . . Laura Sparkman!

Congratulations Laura!

Finally, the drawing you have all been waiting for. . . the black python/leather GUCCI purse donated and signed "with love Angelina Jolie". . . and the winner is. . . Pam Benn!!! Congratulations Pam! What happened next is truly amazing. Pam decided immediately that she wanted this gift to continue giving and bless others. She will donate her Gucci purse to Heart for Africa at the Celebrate Hope event February 2011.

God truly blessed and multiplied our efforts for the well project. Over $10,000 was raised and more hearts were touched by Him for His children in Africa. Soli Deo Gloria!!!

Thank you to all who came out to our event. Thank you to everyone who supported DIG DEEP with your gifts, talents, finances, and your time. Special thanks to Faune Riggin and KZIM River Radio, and to David and Mo at KHIS local Christian Radio for promoting DIG DEEP and helping us to bring about awareness to the 1.1 billion people living without access to clean water. Thank you to all who donated a purse, a build a bear, shared our passion with others and prayed for God to bless this event. He brought many hands together to accomplish His will. A very special thank you to our families, for your love and support and extra help this last week while we were preparing for the fundraiser. An extra special thank you to Ms Nancy, the best foster Grandma who stepped in and lovingly cared for the little p's so I could take off my MOM hat and put 110% into this event. And Chrisy, you truly are "Volunteer Extraordinaire"! Julie and I thank you for helping us research purses, price them and for your merchandizing skills. You kept us organized, took care of accounting details, customer service and handled the drawing details. Thank you everyone. To our Savior and King, thank you for allowing us to serve along side of you. We are blessed and humbled to be used to further Your kingdom.

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Make a Difference and DIG DEEP!

Last night these fellas came to town and put on a rockin concert! I can tell you it was incredible! It was amazing to witness these three Christian groups collaborating together to "Make a Difference" in the lives of the poor and orphans around the world. Add in Max and his powerful testimony and prayers, it will be a night I never forget. There were several thousand people worshiping the Lord last night and on two occasions we prayed collectively as a group for HIS children around the world who were hungry, hurting, alone, sick and in need of clean water.

Max Lucado led us in this scripture, Matthew 25:31-40

" When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'

"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

I just love those words that Jesus spoke. They are so real and He just breaks it down so simply for us. We are saved by faith alone, not by our works. But because we are saved, because our goal is to be more like HIM everyday we start to act like Jesus and when we meet a need for the least of these, we meet His need.

Max Lucado said, "every 6 seconds a child in our world dies from lack of CLEAN WATER". You know I think the Lord was speaking through Max right to my ears. I believe He is pleased with all of us who have answered His call to help the least of these. I believe He is pleased with all of us He will bring together for the fundraiser this friday to bring clean water to the least of these in southern, rural Ethiopia. Please join us, let us all come together and make a difference! Only 50 raffle tickets are left for the fabulous purses donated and signed by the lovely, compassionate and generous Angelina Jolie.

Make a Difference . . . DIG DEEP!