2013 is going to be an amazing year for Mercy House! God has revealed some big plans and we are excited. I’m still trying to figure out how to do all this, but I’m thankful God is my boss and He’s got this.

Maureen and I have so much to discuss and plan and I can’t describe how challenging it is to do so over Skype. She will be coming to America in January for a couple of weeks for meetings and a few speaking engagements to raise money and awareness for Mercy House. If you’re local to one of these venues, I hope you’ll come and meet one of the most amazing women I know!

{Click twice to enlarge} As these dates draw near, I will share more details. **Correction: the church is in Ft Mill, South Carolina (flying into Atlanta) Link above is correct.

My family is over the moon and we can’t wait to introduce her to Texas! I’m already making a list of fun things and restaurants to take her too. She’s excited about Chick Fil A and Tex Mex.

So, this conversation really happened yesterday over Skype:

Me: Is there anything specific you want to do while you’re in Texas?

Maureen: Like cow boots?

Me: {laughing} Maybe we can take you to a rodeo

Maureen: What’s a rodeo?

I hope that’s not like Six Flags NO ROLLER COASTERS.

This is going to be fun.

These precious babes will be in good hands with our staff in Kenya. Please pray for things to go smoothly during her trip to the USA.

She was approved for a one year visa, so this won’t be her first visit. (If you’d be interested in having her speak Fall 2013, email me).

Have a happy weekend before Christmas!

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Some stuff I wrote this week:

Redeeming Home

For the Tangles in Your Story

When I wrote about walking into hell in March of 2010, I didn’t know how I would respond to what I experienced. In a million years, I never imagined what was ahead.

Two years ago this week, Mercy House became a non-profit.  I introduced you to our crazy, God-sized dream. I asked for your help.

As I lay in bed that night with my husband, he said, this is what it feels like to jump out of an airplane. We were free falling with our stomachs in our throats.

But so many of you said yes with us.

Mercy House is not my story, it’s our story.

I am amazed every day at the countless miracles He works on behalf of our young moms and babies in Kenya.

This 11 minute mini-movie was created by my local church several months ago to help tell the Mercy House story. I like how my husband ends the video by asking for prayer because “most often we are at the end of our rope when God steps in.”

Woodlands Point CC – Mercy House Kenya from neil sandoz on Vimeo.

Last week, you helped me raise $10,000 for Violet’s Story. She is being admitted into the hospital today for her life-changing surgeries. And another group of Compassion Bloggers are heading to Peru this week, please pray and  follow along with me.

I’m thankful for the wrecking and the beauty I’ve found in saying yes, for the community and support I’ve found in you.

In 24 hours, we raised $10,000 for Violet’s surgery! 

Officially. Blown. Away.

I was discouraged yesterday. My hubby and I felt it heavy, just the burden and the weight of it all.

I was in tears, as I asked my parents over dinner (who are an amazing support) if I would always feel so inadequate at this God-sized dream. “Will I wake up one day and know what to do next?” They reminded me to focus on today. God holds tomorrow.

I have plans and ideas and I try so hard to figure out “the how.”  I feel pressure because important people ask me for a 3-year plan and for a business overview and then they tell me to be more efficient and I feel efficient because I only cried once, answered a few email, Skyped with Maureen, read with my 5 year old, organized some volunteers and I put dinner in the crock pot-allinoneday. Ya know? 

But then tomorrow is here.

And God takes over.

I like the way He does things.

p.s. We will be selling the Beautiful Feet t-shirts and crosses until they are gone. The proceeds will go to the medical fund at Mercy House…we see some more baby births in our future! Thank you for being a part.

Update as of 9pm CST We only have $1200 (of $10,000 goal) to go! More than $8,800 has come in for her surgery! 

Violet is one of our girls at Mercy House in Kenya, Africa.

She is just one girl. Like most of our girls and so many others in our world, she’s lived a life of pain and insignificance.

When I heard all the horrible details of her life before she entered our home, the roaming journey of a helpless orphan without an advocate in this world, I put my head down on my desk and I cried. I wept for Violet because I didn’t know if anyone else had.  She has experienced unspeakable hell in her few years on earth.

But God saw her sorrow and He went after that one girl… just as He does for each of us.

This is her story.

Maureen and I knew we had to help this child. She belongs at Mercy House and is being transformed more every day! We agreed to take care of her medical costs because we knew you would help us.

Our world wouldn’t define Violet as beautiful. She is scarred.

But God defines true beauty from the inside out and he makes beautiful feet for those who share the Good News!

Violet’s surgery will be before the end of the year. It will cost $10,000 US dollars. $1800 has already been donated for the surgery. Would you be a part of this story?

For a short time, we are offering these beautiful LIMITED EDITION Beautiful Feet shirts for $30, available in S-XXL. Please note shirts will be mailed 2 weeks from order.

(We found a gorgeous Kenyan model to show off our Beautiful Feet shirts. You can read about the shirt details and order in The Mercy Shop.)

Order one today while supplies last.

We are also selling these gorgeous handmade pottery crosses with the Beautiful Feet scripture etched on the back for $20. Order one here.

If you donate $100 or more to Violet’s fund below, you will be sent both shirt and necklace as a gift.

We need your help: please consider giving today and if you aren’t able to donate financially, please share her story.

Special thanks to NextWave Creative for creating and donating this amazing video and our t-shirts design. The counter below is only updating donations given thru it. People are also donating through our Mercy House site. Update as of 9pm CST $1200 (of $10,000 goal) to go! More than $8,800 has come in for her surgery! 

We are raising money for Violet until Dec. 31, 2012. Any money that comes in above and beyond her medical needs will be used for future medical needs at Mercy House in 2013. Your monetary donation is tax deductible. Please mark all donations VIOLET.