A dream about my nieces.

I woke up this morning and just HAD to call my sister-in-law.  I had a dream about the girls last night...

             ... We were at a family gathering and I was meeting my nieces from Congo for the first time.  When I                 reached out to the younger one for a hug, she shyly snuggled up and gladly received it.  The older one was a bit more reserved and a little protective of her younger sibling.  She began to speak to me, but not in English.  When she realized I couldn't understand her, she said "oh, you're American.  Who are you?"  I explained that her daddy was my brother.  I pointed to my mom and said "your grandma is my mom."  Her walls went down and I got a tentative hug.  Then I had to walk out of the room because the feelings were overwhelming me. I knew that the $14,000 needed to keep them had not been fully raised yet and I wanted to keep them.  Then I woke up...

When I shared this dream with my sister-in-law, she told me that a friend of hers had been specifically praying that God would bless her with a dream of these girls.  Maybe she didn't get one of her own, but she got mine!

A few more details I have been made aware of
...Oliviay is the younger sister, Isabel the older
... a couple of weeks ago they weighed 10 and 11 lbs. respectively
...$4,000 has been raised!
...a check for $14,000 has to be in the mail on April 23rd.

I realize not everyone understands why these girls, why Congo, Africa, why now, but what I know is that this is walk of faith is what God has called my brother and sister-in-law to right now.  I am excited and privileged to be a part of rescuing these girls and loving on them for the rest of their lives.

Please, please, please consider helping bring these babies to a safe home, away from the dangers of war and poverty.  Please, please, please pray that God will move in a mighty way and provide.

I know this is bold of me, but checks can be sent to:

The Brown family

2305 Eola Dr. NW 
Salem, OR 97304

A Better Life

I'd like to introduce you to my new twin nieces:  Isabel and Oliviay.  I have seen a picture and at this point, you'll have to just take my word for it - they are ADORABLE!  We have been told they celebrated their first birthday last month just before their uncle and grandfather brought them to the orphanage in Congo, Africa.  Their mother died and their family desired a better life opportunity for them.

It saddens me to think what would bring the girls's family to this point of desperation.  Then it dawned on me - in Congo these girls face a future that probably includes malnourishment, a high risk of catching the same disease that took their mother from them, perhaps AIDS or malaria, and extreme poverty that could lead to desperate measures.  For them to have survived this far, with the high rate of infant mortality in Congo, is a miracle.

My brother, Jeff, and his wife, Kara, long to provide them with fresh drinking water, 3 meals a day, a roof over their heads, medical care, and the opportunity to go to school - things that we as Americans take for granted.  These girls will not end up as beggars on the street or prostitutes.  Their destiny has changed - they are being rescued! 

To bring them home, my brother and sister-in-law need $14,000 plus travel expenses by April 30th.   That seems like a huge amount to me, but it's not to God.  Please pray with us that God will provide so that my nieces can come home.  If He has moved you, please, please consider helping.  Any amount is helpful towards that goal.  Message me and I will send you their address.

To read more about their story thus far, you can find it at:  http://lovethatcameforus.wordpress.com/.