The Puppies

Oh my! Puppies are just the cutest things. Aren't they? Even if you are not a dog person, you can't deny that they are precious.

Heath's mom, several weeks ago, took in a dog that was hanging around their house and looking very malnourished. She was NOT planning on keeping it, but shortly after taking her in, they realized she was pregnant. So she took her to the vet and got her all checked up knowing she was in for the long haul.

Well mama dog had her puppies 4 weeks ago and they are SO CUTE. I'm so tempted to take one, but there is NO way on God's green earth that my husband would allow that. He thinks I'm ridiculous for even entertaining the thought in my head.

But they are just so cute. Take a look.







Needless to say, Ella LOVED them! Heath's mom told me that every morning last week while Ella was there for Camp Crow's Nest, the moment her eyes opened for the day she was asking for the puppies.






















If one of these puppies stole your heart (which they did mine), there are still 5 that need homes so just let me know I can hook you up.

Camp Crows Nest Pictures

Ella had a great time at Camp Crows Nest last week. And I missed you like crazy. I was so happy to see her Saturday morning, obviously!

Her is the week in review with pictures.

Monday: Bounce House Day

Ella & her cousin Jessica! Ella still has not stopped talking about how much fun she had with Jessica.










PURE JOY!







Tuesday: Movie Day (Monsters vs Aliens)
I don't have any pictures of this day.

Wednesday: Water Day
They spent this fun day at home with the pools and sprinklers.



Group pic of all the cousins.


Powder Donut Break.




I love this face!


That evening they roasted hot dogs and s'mores on the fire pit, while Cousin James sang fun camp songs that they got to dance and sing along to.






Some of the dancing!


Thursday: Skating!

Okay, not to brag on my sweet girl, but they said she was amazing at skating. She was so brave and her balance was so good on those skates, she wanted to go faster and skate all by herself. I'm amazed, because my balance on skates is about ZERO. I am going to have to take her skating here at home so I can witness this talent in person.











Friday: Bowling!
Ella had so many firsts this week, skating, roasting hot dogs and s'mores and now bowling. They said she loved it! She had to carry the 6 pound ball all by herself form the rack to the ally. Little Miss Independent. Something else I can't wait to witness in person.

They had t-shirts made for all the kids and mommies. Aren't they adorable?










I heard this is how most of the daily activities ended for Ella. Ella is the youngest of all the cousins, so this was more activity than she has ever had in a week. But she loved every second of it.


Official group picture with all the cousins, grandmas and mommies (plus all 7 puppies which I will show more pictures of later because they are crazy cute!)


Thank you so much Meme for a fabulous week of fun and spoiling for Ella! We love you!

Camp Crows Nest

All week Ella has been in Waco with Heath's mom, Meme, at Camp Crows Nest. It's a new thing they started this summer that will hopefully become a tradition.

Ella and all 9 of her 2nd cousins came together at Meme's and had an entire week dedicated to them doing fun things. They even got t-shirts made!

The mommies of all the other cousins were there to help. I was the only one that had to stay back home to work, but had full confidence that Ella was in GREAT hands and having a ball.

Monday they went to a bounce house place.

Tuesday they went to see a movie (Monsters and Aliens) and then they went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream.

Wednesday was water day. They had blow up pools and slip and slides at the house. Then they roasted hot dogs and smores on the fire pit.

Thursday was roller skating day. I heard that Ella was amazing. They said she was skating BY HERSELF!! I'm so sad I didn't witness this in person. That's my girl.

Friday was bowling. Ella experienced so many firsts this week.

And of course there was lots of spoiling, yummy food and play time in between all the daily scheduled activities.

There were lots of pictures taken. I can't wait to get the pictures from them.

We are leaving early early Saturday morning to go pick her up!! It's been hard having her away. I've been away from her for this long a few times, but it's when I am leaving to go out of the country and crazy busy. This is the first time she's been gone and I've been home in my own routine. It was weird. And I was sad.

I can not wait to see her!!! And hopefully I will have lots of adorable pictures for y'all.

Heath & Sudan - Tonight

One more prayer request...

Can y'all be praying for Heath this evening? Heath is sharing tonight at our church for our Wednesday night service about His Voice for Sudan. He is giving a history of Sudan, a history of His Voice, the future of His Voice and then Heath's part in His Voice (which includes raising support for his position).

This is his first big public speaking assignment for His Voice since accepting the position as Director of Ministry Coordination. We are VERY excited! I'm a little nervous, but of course he is not. God has certainly given Heath a gift for speaking.

Please be praying that God would bless him and give him the right words to articulate exactly what it is God would have told tonight!!!

Lura Orphanage Update & Praise!

Amber just sent an update through Facebook on the children at Lura!


Y'all....THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRAYING. We just got an email from Bishop saying that 8 have recovered! They will be monitored a bit but have stopped having "running stomach" as they say...they will be hydrating them and they will be back to there normal routine. The other 3 are still sick but they are hopeful that they will also recover.

AMEN... God did a mighty work at Lura!

Please continue to pray:

The 8 continue to hold down food and hydration.
The 3 stop having "running stomach" and begin holding down food and water.
Pray as they all morn the loss of one of their friends.
Pray for the mother of this sweet child as she morns the loss of her baby.


Thank you blogger friends!! Your prayers are working!

Urgent Prayer for Sudan

Heath got a call from Vernon this morning telling us that they received the below email from Biship Taban regarding the break out of a horrible illness going on at Lura Orphanage that has killed one baby.

Lura Orphanage is the orphanage we spent most of our time at last year playing with the kids, cooking with the women and having Bible study with. My heart is broken over what is going on there. Bishop Taban is certain they have it under control now, but please be praying for healing for the other children that have this.

From Amber:
Today we received an email from Bishop Taban (the pastor over all of the ministry we do in Sudan). Some of the children at the Lura orphanage are VERY sick. One child (although not an orphan, it was a child of one of the employed cooks) has died from the virus. Currently, 11 children are sick. They think they have the virus contained, but please pray.
Pray for our children as they are sick and needing to be brought back to health.
Pray for the nurses and health staff as they care for them.
Pray for the sweet mom who lost her child.
Pray for all the children and family as they morn the loss of this child.

Here is the email Amber and Vernon received this morning from Bishop Taban.

Dear brethren;

The children at Lura Orphanage has been attacked by running stomach. 11 are on sick bed right now and one child dead today. We closed our Yei town clinic because all the staff are to attend to the situation in Lura. Though the child who dead is not an official registered child but the mother was employed two months back as a cook and she could not leave the child behind; one problem that mighty have caused the death is that the mother gave the child local medicine before reporting to the nurse. According to our health staff the situation has been brought under control.

Thank you for your prayers.

Love.

Bishop Elias Taban.

Thanks y'all. And we will keep you updated as we hear more.


One of the pictures we took last year of some of the sweet children that live at Lura.

Happy 4th

Happy Independence Day! And Happy Birthday to my cousin Matt! I love, love, love you!

We are spending a fabulous weekend in Waco with Heath's family.

Heath's mom recently took in a rescue dog, which she didn't know at the time, but was pregnant. She had her puppies a few weeks ago and they are just the cutest things! I totally forgot my camera this weekend. Grrr. So these pics are from Heath's phone. Definitely does not portray there absolute cuteness.

Ella was so excited to see them. She had been talking about going to Meme's to see the puppies for 3 weeks now.














So if anyone needs a puppy, we've got some. There are 7 of them. 4 blonde, 1 black, 1 black & white, and 1 brown and black.

I hope you all have a wonderful 4th weekend with family and friends!

Mission's Monday - Big Announcement

Below is a snippet from the His Voice news letter that is sent out through email. It's announcing our VERY exciting news which is...

Heath is now going to be working with His Voice. Vernon, the founder of the ministry, asked Heath several weeks ago if he would like to come on board as Director of Ministry Development.

Last year, when we went to Sudan with His Voice, the moment we got home Heath said he knows that we are supposed to do more with this ministry. And it has been so neat to watch all year how God put that desire in Heath's heart and how He has worked out all out to bring us to this point.

We are so excited about this new chapter in our lives! We are so thankful that God has opened this door for Heath. We love this ministry and now, to be able to work with them, is like a dream.

So be prepared to hear lots more.

June 2009

Great Additions in the
Life of His Voice

Hey Everyone,

I am excited to let you know we have hired two new employees for His Voice. We believe this will give us great opportunity to expand and deepen our reach in proclaiming the Gospel to all nations.

Justin Kitchens is not only one of the smartest guys I know, he also loves the Lord more than most people I have ever known. Justin will be the Executive Financial Director. He will be responsible for overseeing the books and also helping us to build out a more extensive business plan in order for future growth. He is going to be pursuing his MBA in accounting also.

Heath Hartsfield is a great friend and also an incredible business mind. He will be coming on in the capacity of Director of Ministry Development. Heath will be responsible for helping us to create innovative ways for people to partner with His Voice and also for more people to hear about what we are doing.

I have specifically kept these introductions very brief because they will each be writing more about themselves in the next eLetter. My main purpose was to quickly introduce them to you so that you can start to pray for us as a ministry team. I have personally been overwhelmed by the graciousness of God to bring both of these guys in my life. He is the provider of all things good and gives us what we need at the most precise time. Thanks Papa!