Right now in my life

Hi!

I know it's been to long! I wish I could write more, but I don't have Internet for time being. I borrowed a computer so I could let you all know whats been going on in my life.

First... I moved back to Tennessee. I missed my family and church so much. I felt Tennessee is where God wanted me. I think PA was only for time.  I learn a lot from my friends the Conroy's and Wyman's though while in Pennsylvania. I learned things that I will keep forever. God work on my heart and I fell in love with my Heavenly father more. I understand him more and his love for me. I am so beyond greatful for Mike and Liv Conroy taking time to listen, to love on me and help me fight through my pain.  God use my time in PA to begin healing and restoration in my life. Also, I am so blessed by the Wyman's for giving me a place to stay. There was never a dull moment in the house, which I loved. I was so humbled by how they all welcome a stranger in there home. Thank you!

So I AM BACK in Tennessee!

Living in a new place( another blog about that)

Enjoying being at my church

Loving every moment I get with my family. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!

God and I working on facing my fears and not letting insecurities get in my way of what God is asking of me. I never realized how insecurities in our lives effect everything. How many times did I not minister to someone because I was scared of what they might think of me or not said said hello to someone at church who was new. It so important that we all feel secure in our father. Everyday I take small steps towards facing my fears. I want to bold for God.

Finally, after almost a year I got a full time job! Praise The Lord! I am nanny for two little ones. Harlow who is 4 years old and Lawson who is 18 months. I love my job!

Everyone keeps asking me about Ethiopia and I think I have come to point of healing to be able to write about my time. I will share in another blog. I can't believe this month will be a year since I left the country I love so much. I do miss it and want to go back for visit so bad. I save money here and there. Right now, all I need is enough money for a plane ticket. I can't wait to get back and hug those kids. Please pray that God will open doors for me to visit!

Praying constantly for whats next in life my life. I don't know what's next but I know HE has great plans for me.

Please keep me in your prayers

Much love

My Sister

I wanted to share with you all someone who means so much me in my life...

 My sister!!!

My sister is mother of 4 children and a wife to a pretty awesome man!

There are not enough words to express how much I love her and how blessed I am to call her my family. MY entire life my sister always has taken care of me. Even when I was a baby my sister took care of me.

Thats right folks, lets not forget who the oldest is:) 

Almost two years ago my sister took me into her home, so I could do what God had called me to do in my life on the mission field.  No questions asked! In that time God let me enter the world of a family, my family that I love so much. I never met a women so dedicated to God, her children and husband. 

 My sister is someone I look up to be one day. A women sold out for Jesus. A women who leads her children to God. A women of prayer and mediation on the word. A women that can cook great food :)  A women of cleanliness. A women of a strong heart. A women that is selfless. A women that follows her husband. A women that serves her church. A women that enjoys life. 

Anyone who knows my sister, knows my sister is AMAZING!! 

I love her!

Thank you for bringing me in when I had nowhere else to go. Thank you for showing me the greatest church family in the world. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to see and be apart of a Godly family. I miss you all terribly! 

So today, I want to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MUCH OLDER SISTER!! 

Praying her home

Aniyah



Year ago I met this little girl. She forever changed my heart! Her smile and laugh are so contagious . I will never forget her sense of humor and always making me laugh. How smart she is and how it always stops me in my tracks. Her courage always bring me to my knees to God. I never met someone so little go through what she has been through. Her strength exceeded my expectation. God has such AMAZING plans and has given her a story of Gods love for his children.


I remember the  first time I met Aniyah. I just got off the plane from America and I watched Ashli  put this little one asleep. I had asked Ashli her story and what the plans where for her . She began to tell me her story, how she lost her mother a couple weeks ago and how they found her dirty, and covered in lice.  She took her in until she could find another home for her . But unknown to us GOD had a different plan. I remember trying to go to sleep that night. I was overly excited to see all the kids the next day. As I was praying I fell asleep, then I heard Aniyah crying! She was crying "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy," over and over. I ran down stair to wake Ashli. She rushed to her and picked her up and rocked her while she cried for her mom. I remember leaving the room crying. I can't imagine being 6 years old and losing my mother. The most amazing part is GOD place Ashli to hold her every time she cried out to her mom.  Its always a reminder that God is always holding us when where broken.


The relationship between Ashli and Aniyah began to change and everyday I could see Ashli was becoming a mother for this little girl. I knew then this is why God brought Ashli 8000 miles away from home and new finance. God brought her to find her forever daughter. Over time while Aniyah was living with us God began to show his plan to Ashli and the calling for her life. After time of praying Ashli and her(at the time) finance felt God was leading them to adopt on her.

And then the journey began... to bring Aniyah home to her forever family!!

Its now been close to a year  and we are still waiting for the LAST piece of paper that needs to be signed by the Ethiopian government to allow her to GO into the orphanage.  I have watched Ashli fight for so many Ethiopian children to come home to their forever family. NOW time for us to all step out in prayer for this little girl so that she may be with her forever family!! We need to pray that the government finds favor for Aniyah's life. Please be in prayer for Ashli and Spencer and it is so hard to be 8000 miles away from a daughter they love so much.

PLEASE PRAY ANIYAH HOME!!!


I am so beyond blessed to have watched this story unfold and had the privileged to care for Aniyah for a time. I can't wait to see this little girl back into her mommy arms again. I pray that she never again has to cry out for her mom again. God couldn't have given her better parent the Spencer and Ashli Richardson.

Praying you home sweet girl....

Trusting Gods plan

I am here in PA. I live in a small town called Factoryville. It looks like your typical  northeastern town. Its been really chilly here. Its been the 50s and 40s at night and raining a lot.

I  live  in a house with 6 other people and one bathroom:) We will see how long that last because 5 of them are women. I do live with a family! There is Jennifer(the mom) and she has four children, Amy 24, Bethel, 20, Ruthie 19 and David 17. Also Bethel friend Carrie lives here. So there is a full house and never a dull  moment.

I have been really homesick. I never been homesick before. When I left for Ethiopia I never felt this way.  I miss my family and my church family a lot.

Been wondering why God called me here or what my purpose is. Maybe he called me to here just to test my  faith or for me to understand Gods love for me even more. Maybe he is just equipping me for my next journey on the mission field. One thing I know is I have to keep trusting him with my life even though I want to get in my car and drive back to Tennessee. I know that God knows whats best for me and I want to fulfill his dreams for my life.

I got a part time job at the local supermarket:)

Please pray that I can find a full time job and that God  continues to give me his strength for this journey. Pray that God gives me the opportunity to use me while I am here.

Missing my church family!!!

Also, I want everyone to know that I haven't stop preparing for a trip back to Ethiopia and a trip to Kenya. I'm  hoping maybe by September God will make a way for me to go to the place my heart longs to go. So far I have raised $600 dollars. I just need to raise $2,400 more!!  Thank you to all that donate to me and believing in what God has called me to do:) I can't wait to get back on the field and fight for children souls.

I'm moving...

Well, Everyone is going to be shocked but..... I am moving!

 

I am moving to Factoryville, Penn. It is near to Scranton ( yes, that's right all you "Office" fans) .

Its all the sudden, crazy and fast, but I know that God is calling me there.

About 6 month ago I met some people on Facebook who as much as me LOVE Ethiopia. We began a great friendship. Mike who is a pastor at Grace Fellowship and Liv is his lovely wife and they are parents to 3 beautiful girls. One is adopted from Ethiopia and they are in the process of adopting a 10 year old boy from Ethiopia. We started are friendship with a weekly bible study (which I Skype for that). There are no words to describe what these 2 have helped me through. Coming home from Ethiopia was so hard and was very draining on me. They were willing to equip me and disciple me. Through them God has taught me so much. Together we have been praying to see where God is calling me.

I have been living in Manchester, Tenn just unable to get a job. It really does a toll on you when you can't get hired on at a job anywhere. I became very sad because I was uncertain that of what God was wanting me to do. Friday I went applied at another job and I didn't get. I just couldn't understand why wouldn't God give me a job. I prayed about it and this is the verse that came to my mind.

" You have stayed here long enough at this mountain!" Deuteronomy 1:6

I feel like God is telling me to GO where he has called me. My friends in PA have been inviting me to come live there for months . So I am taking a leap of Faith and going where God is leading me. I know nothing of future or what it hold but I know God does. God is always there taking care of his children. I know God has great plans for me. 

Now, I bet your wondering where I will stay... Great question!! 

Let me introduce you to......

Bethel and Carrie. These to lovely ladies attended the weekly bible study that I attend through Skype. We have began a friendship. These two have a huge heart for mission and love Ethiopia just as much I do. They have such open hearts to wherever God is calling them into the mission field. Bethel has offered me a place to sleep until I can get my feet on the ground.  They have been so encouraging and loving towards me and I am so grateful for them.

So this Wednesday I am taking the 14 hour drive to PA and starting a new chapter. Please pray for me because this is very hard and scary for me. I am yet again leaving everything I know and going into the unknown. Praying this is another door that will get me back to Africa

Lately...

I think since I have been home I have cried more then I have in my life and felt more uncertain of the future. Ever since I gave up my life for Christ to go where God called me, my life has never been the same.
Being a Christian is not an easy road, but a road I would run down million times.

Lately...

I have been unable to get a job since I got back from Ethiopia. Uncertain why. Weird.

Wondering where I belong here.

Bill are piling up.

Lonely

I miss having friends.

Praying God brings friends into my life that we could change the world with.

Dreaming of Africa everyday.

Wondering who my husband is.

Made new friends in Pennsylvania. Who have helped me through a lot of tears.  I hope I can visit them soon.

Enjoying spending time with my family everyday and watching my nieces and nephews grow up.

Learned this past month that I truly don't understand the LOVE Christ has for ME. Crazy since I teach and tell so many how much God loves them, right. I believe that it comes from my childhood, being rejected from my father, abuse I have dealt with as a child. Always feeling a burden and disappointment etc  I never realized this, but this is how I though Christ thought of me. Its so hard because I wish I could feels Gods tangible love.

Praying for a revelation and wounds to be reveled, so I can begin to heal and become a better me. Needing all the prayer and help I can get.

One thing I have been doing is listening to music and repeat words over and over to myself  telling myself this is how God feels about me.

One song (it actually on my playlist) "Make you feel my love. " The Adele version, of course! Its a perfect title for my situation. I had originally put it on my playlist because it was the last song I heard in the van on my way to the airport and sitting next to Birhane, who was shedding so many tears.  I remember thinking I hope that Birhane knows how much I love him and how hard I tried to show a Gods love to him and all the street kids. I really think the song is meant for me. All the ways Jesus try's  to show us how much he loves us. Here are the lyrics...

                                                                                    "Make You Feel My Love"

When the rain is blowing in your face,

And the whole world is on your case,

I could offer you a warm embrace

To make you feel my love.

When the evening shadows and the stars appear,

And there is no one there to dry your tears,

I could hold you for a million years

To make you feel my love.

I know you haven't made your mind up yet,

But I would never do you wrong.

I've known it from the moment that we met,

No doubt in my mind where you belong.

I'd go hungry; I'd go black and blue,

I'd go crawling down the avenue.

No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do

To make you feel my love.

The storms are raging on the rolling sea

And on the highway of regret.

The winds of change are blowing wild and free,

You ain't seen nothing like me yet.

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true.

Nothing that I wouldn't do.

Go to the ends of the Earth for you,

To make you feel my love

To make you feel my love

Perfect!!  Just soak these words in from this song!

God wants our love!

Life in Ethiopia

I am not sure if I let you know what I did in Ethiopia! Here it is..

I put together a bible study class at my house

I feed them lunch

I did this 4 days a week. 

Also let some of the kids teach as well

This is Chekol aka Chocolate! He wants to be a pastor when grows up. He so much loves Jesus. We would do prayer request at the end of the day and he would always say "I want to glorify God in everything I do."  Amazing boy!! Please pray for him!

Also did artwork :) 

We went to buy shoes for the kids. First time shopping for shoes for them. They didn't know which pair to choose.

We got to redo a home :)

Drank coffee of course. IT'S Ethiopia!

Hand washed my clothes. People this takes all day and then days for your clothes to dry:) Lol 

We sang!

We went to church! I miss Beza church and the worship!

We also partied!! 

And we danced

 We went swimming

No big deal, there just monkeys in the trees here:) 

This was my view from my window

Just add this picture because he is so CUTE!!!! 

So many sweet memories! I will never forget my time in Ethiopia or these kids. There always in my heart! I hope I left a little bit of Jesus's love with them.

New Beginnings

Hello!!

Have you missed me:)

I know, I know, I know I have been missing for months now, but I am back with a brand new blog!

What do you think?

This blog is going to be more about me and my life, so I can share more with you. I am still working out some problems I am having, but soon it will be complete.

New Beginnings for me this year...

 As you all know I spent the last 2 years helping the street children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I went through a lot of trails, pain and cried a lot to make this choice... but I feel that my time in Ethiopia has come to an end:( I hope that one day I can share with you my time I had last summer/fall. I know that I will always visit Ethiopia, so I can continue planting seeds in hearts and keep in touch with relationships I have there. Its still like my second home:)

So, I have been praying about where God is leading me now in my life.
I know I am called to do mission work in this world and I have been praying about where I should go next to do ministry. So I am excited to announce to you where God is leading me .........

KENYA

Well, Now the question is where or what will I do?? That is a great question. I have friends who have lead me to some places that they have worked at in the past in Kenya. I have been making some connections and praying through them all.

One place that has spoke to my heart in called Agape Hope Center www.agapehope-childrencenter.com. They have a school,orphanage, feeding and sponsorship programs and are in desperate need of help. I feel this is a place to share Gods love and the gospel message.

So this leads me to my next step...

I feel I need to make what I like to call a VISION trip to Kenya. I want to go for 3 weeks to check out ministries in Kenya. I want to become more familiar with the ministries and see if they are a perfect match for what God is calling me to do:) 

So my plan is to go to Kenya and Ethiopia July/Aug 2013. I have some friends that served with me last summer and really want to serve the street kids again. The plan is to spend a couple of days in Ethiopia to enroll/ pay for kids school fees for the up coming year and minister by telling them the gospel message. Then fly to Kenya to work at Agape Hope Center serving the least of these. My friends that are coming with have served before at Agape Hope Center and really loved it.


Sooooooo this is where you,  all that believe in me and really want to help me with what I am doing come in.

I need to raise $3,500 dollars for my VISION trip to Kenya/Ethiopia.

I feel like it such short notice, but I know if its Gods will there will be a  away. I need to raise $2000 in one month to get my plan ticket. The longer I wait the more expensive it gets. The rest of the money is just expenses for living and food.

If you like to help me get to Kenya to help me minister to God's children. There is donate button located on this page or email me rebeccajbrown84@yahoo.com

Also the number one thing you could do is pray for me. I need clarity, guidance for God will and to make the right choices on this new journey God has me on.

Really couldn't do any of this with out any of you!! You have BELIEVED in me and my calling and that means more to me then anything:) 

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

Let the fundraising begin....