God is GREAT!!! ...And Forever Faithful!

Wow…So, as you ALL know I am working at fundraising for my next upcoming mission trip to Africa this summer.  Before deciding about making this final decision and committing on going on this trip, I had questions…and I started to doubt God’s plans for my life.  …Going on a mission trip does take time…It does take money…It’s expensive—How in the WORLD will I be able to come up with this amount of money…again?  I have already asked for donations…I have already done fundraisers…I don’t want to bother people…I don’t want to annoy them and I don’t want to bug them…

But still in my heart I could hear God telling me to “Go….Go visit the orphans…go visit the precious children in need…Go…I’ll provide.”  So, I decided that if this was God’s plan for my life He would most certainly follow through and provide for me…I wasn’t sure how He would do this? I wasn’t sure when He would do this? But I just believed in my heart that HIS WAYS are BEST and that if I want to live out my faith and my love for Him…I needed to GO! He would certainly take care of the rest.  

At the end of November I had received an email about the Ordinary Hero Fundraiser.  Right away I thought—Maybe I could do this?  …But then those doubts and negative thoughts would start coming back into my head… “I’ve already fundraised…I don’t want to make people feel like they HAVE to…I don’t want to keep bugging people…” Then, God softly put this fact on my heart… By fundraising I can advocate for the lonely children in Africa…I can ENCOURAGE others to HELP and to GIVE…and Maybe there are people out there that can’t exactly get up and come to Africa with me…Maybe they can’t leave their job…their kids…or maybe they physically just can’t get up and go on a trip to Africa…So This is how I can have them be a part of this trip.  They can pray and support me…With their help I am able to go on these trips. With their help…support…prayers…love…and encouraging words I am able to GO and to OPEN MY ARMS AND HEART to all of these children…I am able to DONATE items to them…and I am able to remind them that they are NOT FORGOTTEN! …Yes…it’s a simple fundraiser…but it’s a way to encourage and invite others to get involved….And with their involvement they will help bless the many children that I go see…and they will also feel blessed in their own hearts…Knowing they were a part of this trip too.

So I decided to jump on board with the Ordinary Hero Fundraiser! …God reminded me that I needed to do this…This is a GREAT fundraiser and there is a chance at winning a $500 GRANT! I decided it would just be silly of me to pass this up…and so I didn’t!  I started fundraising on December 1^st and I’ve been praying about this fundraiser ever since…Praying God would continue to BLOW ME AWAY by His faithfulness…Praying God would help provide these funds for me…Praying He would use others to GIVE and to make a difference…Praying for the children in Africa…Praying for God to be with them…Praying for God to use me…Praying for God to help me bring them HOPE.

For some people…they might think this is just something that I want to do…Yes…I DO want to do this…but more importantly…GOD wants me to do this…He has CALLED me to do this…I strongly believe that and until I hear otherwise I will continue to follow what He has called me to do. What I do know is that if I didn’t follow His calling I would miss out on many blessings…These trips are GREAT—yes! They are very powerful and super inspiring and they remind me of what is important in life…They encourage me to help and do as much as I can with what I have…because the NEED that these children all face is SO great and that I can’t hold back any longer…the need is too great…the reality for many is life or death.

Along with the many joys and blessings that my heart receives while going on these mission trips…There is also great difficulty in taking these trips. Of course the BLESSINGS outweigh these difficult times by far!! But still…there are those moments when I feel as though my heart it literally being TORN out of my body and being thrown and stomped on…The things that we saw the last time I was in Africa…are horrific…the lifestyle some children have to live…how children are abandoned and left alone…at such a young age…how these children are looked at on the streets as if they were a stray cat…they are ignored and looked at with disgusted…how these children endure extreme pain on a daily basis…all because no one wants to take care of them??? …All because no one wants to SHARE FOOD and CLEAN WATER with them??? WHAT! …There are SO many people here in the United States that I know of…that as soon as a baby or a child walk into the room their faces LIGHT UP and they all fight for this babies attention…smothering and wanting a chance to hold them! …I love this…and this is EXACTLY how I am too!! …And what gets at my heart is…There are MILLIONS of children in this world…MILLIONS of children in Africa that long for this sort of attention…But somehow it doesn’t match up…does it? So many loving people here that long for a sweet child…long to add to their family…but don’t…even though they might like to…they simply decide not to…While there are SO many precious and lonely children…that DREAM and PRAY to be noticed…just by ONE person…so that they can be reminded that they ARE  IMPORTANT…and that they are LOVED.  And maybe we can’t all adopt…and maybe that’s not God’s will for your life…But I do believe we can serve…and go where he calls us to go.  You might be thinking that a short-term mission trip doesn’t really last that long…and that after I go and visit they are still left there….Yes…I know this…and it tears my heart apart when I leave…But it IS important…and I have proof that I would like to share with you…

Today I received one of the BEST GIFTS in the mail…And because it’s Christmas time and there has been a lot of online ordering going on…You might think I received a favorite piece of clothing…or a favorite CD…or Book…a favorite t-shirt or necklace…or some sort of package filled with lots of goodies for this holiday season…BUT no…I received a letter from DUNCAN!!! J Do you all remember the story about Duncan?  How I met him at Fiwagoh when we went to Kenya…And that Shelby, him and I all felt this special bond…and that before we left we all decided that he was our NEW BROTHER in AFRICA!! …And that he now had a family in the United States! ….This past October was his Birthday and I made sure to send him a card.  So I went to Wal-Mart and I was trying to find the perfect card for him…but I wasn’t really having any luck…But then I saw a traditional Happy Birthday Card that played the Happy Birthday Song.  It sort of looked a little “kidish”…but knowing how excited they all got over ONE SILLY BAND…I thought—He’ll LOVE it! So I purchased this…along with a pack of stickers…2 Minnesota Post Cards…and I wrote him a letter as well as sent him a picture of our family…So he could see what his mom and dad and other sister in America look like!;)  Well today I received his letter along with 3 PICTURES of him!!!!  One picture was of him and his friend, Emmanuel, at their garden…another picture was of Duncan in his garden and the last picture was of him in the kitchen…holding some stuff in his hands—what looks to be like the birthday card and picture that we sent him!! J He wrote us ALL a letter…He wrote to Dear Sister Stephanie…Dear Sister Shelby…To Dear Brother Patrick…to Dear Dad Al and to Dear Mom Gina. Wow…I saw this writing and my heart got instantly HEAVY! ...Here is what he wrote to me:

My Dear Beloved Sister Shanna,

Hopefully you are fine, I am doing great but miss you so much that mostly I always look at the photos you sent me for a long time. Greetings from my brothers and sisters here at school.

I take this golden opportunity to give you my heartfelt thanks for the photos and the birthday card you sent me.  For sure it has made my life turn around 180 degrees. For sure I give my thanks from my bottomless pit of my heart for your love and kindness to me for being so mindfull about me. Having not made it to this place but sent an encouraging love through the letter. God is going to open up ways and we shall meet soon. Hopefully at “home” by His will. And more so wishing terribly to be with me in my birthday but never mind because the Lord will do His will upon us.

For sure the birthday card was neat and played music that really brought me joy and I knew that someone cares for me. I enjoyed it sooo much.  It had really brought the bubbles of joy and a river of happiness in my life.

Thanks for introducing me to mom and dad and Patrick and Stephanie. I have written them letters. For sure I long to meet this brother, sister and these parents once but sure God’s timing is sure and perfect as you claimed in your letter. But they are always in my prayers.

You people have made my life a steep ahead both spiritually and physically. I remember days that I was angery and even didn’t get to shower and had to eat poorly but now praise the Lord that I have people who care for me.

For now, I need to learn and hopefully go to a medical institution to get lessons on health. Then I can help the people of perishing souls and show them the light. I am still going on with my health and education from the books that we have.  I am very much fine and for the children that were sick by the help of the Lord they are better and most children are well again. Their sickness came from a result of one of the children coming with a disease and it spread to more children.

Thanks for letting me know that you love, care and are ready to help me whenever possible. Thanks for also accepting me into the family and that there is love and unity and protection.

Please will you share with me about the pouring of the snow since I have never seen it but in pictures. Tell me about the challenges that are faced and what is fun about it and tell me how the university level is going on and how it is. Is it like the normal schooling? Tell me about mom and dad, Steph and Patrick. Let me know how they do worship.

I know that it expenses you much to write me and send me some things but thanks for your love Shanna. I am really praying to meet you and the rest of the family members as soon as God wants me to. Say hi to your friends, neighbors and tell tham that there is one in heaven who will not fail them. Thank you and love you. I hope to hear from you.

Your Blessed Hope Brother,

Duncan

Wow!! Can you see how a short term mission trip CAN and DOES make a HUGE DIFFERENCE!! I am beyond grateful that God led me on that trip last summer…and that God led me to Duncan!  I do love and miss him and I do look at him as my brother!!  AND—Guess what…When I go to Africa—I’ll be VISITING HIM!!!! My team leader, Diana, had messaged me last week explaining that she’ll be leading another team over to Africa this summer. We are still working on the details but she said for sure that we’ll be going to Fiwagoh—will be staying for a longer amount of time there…and we will be visiting 2 orphanages that are in NEED of visitors and for people to come LOVE on their precious babies….UM…OK! J She said that the one orphanage has about eleven 1 year olds!! Oh boy….I can feel my heart breaking already!  I’m SO SO SO excited to go over there and to go back to the children at Fiwagoh—they need us...they need love…and they NEED HOPE so that their lives can change…and do as Duncan said…an eighty degree turn in the right direction!

Ok…SO that was my GOOD news that I got ALL excited about!! …BUT…I have more.  This afternoon I had just received a message from a lady that is in charge of the Ordinary Hero Fundraiser.  She sent me some more GREAT NEWS!!!  There is just 5 ½ days LEFT of this contest in having a chance to receive the $500 GRANT! …There are 150 people doing this fundraisier…AND….as of today I’m in the TOP 5!!! WHAAAAT!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!!! I seriously started jumping in my room when I called and told Patrick!!! J This extra 500 dollars would get me one step closer in being able to go see and surprise Duncan!!! And what’s even crazier…is that there have only been 9 people who have order items for me…What 9?!? And I’m in the TOP 5?!?!  This says a lot because these people’s items have been VERY generous and I am again BLOWN away at how God stays true to HIS WORD…He will provide. Of course He will provide…In James 1:27 He CLEARLY tells us to go visit orphans…so of course He will provide!!

Wow you guys!!! I cannot THANK YOU enough for all who have helped purchase items from Ordinary Hero!! There is just 5 ½ days left!!! And, although I’m in the TOP 5 I don’t want to play it safe and act like I’m going to win this grant…I know the fight is INTENSE with everyone else that is in the TOP 5…so if there is anyone out there that would be willing to HELP and possibly purchase any item I would appreciate it SOO SOOO much. And, you can look at it this way, your $25 item is helping me with the 40% …But it’s also helping me reach my goal at earning the $500 Grant!

One challenge that I have started is to see if anyone would be willing to purchase the Donation Combo Pack that is under the items that can be donated to children in Africa.  Each Combo Pack is $55 and includes 2 Raincoats, 1 pair of Aqua Shoes and a Warm Fleece Blanket.  My goal is to have 100 people purchase 100 of these combo packs!  Do you know why?? Yes—It would strongly help get me into the TOP 3…But not only this—This is a GREAT way to GIVE this Christmas season. We could bless 100 children in Ethiopia with 100 of these combo packs!! These children will most likely not receive a Christmas present this year…BUT, you could change that!!! You could CHANGE the WORLD to ONE child in Africa!!!  

Here is the Ordinary Hero Website: www.ordinaryherostore.org I pray that you would please consider making some type of a purchase and that you would continue to pray for all of God’s precious children.  If you do purchase something with Ordinary Hero, please remember to click on “Shanna Bahn” under the affiliated drop box so that I can receive the 40% credit. Thank you all!! I have the BEST family and friends in the WORLD!!! We are CHANGING the world!!

I’ll be praying for you…I’ll be praying for your heart…and I’ll be praying for God’s will and His plans for all of the many children that will be without a family this Christmas.

Here is a beautiful adoption video that I'd like to share! Ps. Notice all of their Ordinary Hero shirts that they are wearing!! :)  To view the video, just push play but before starting it you will need to go to the bottom of my page and mute my music! :)