Holes for Hope

Aaron's organization Project Restore Hope had a charity golf tournament on Monday. I got to go. I GOT TO GO. Yes, there's weight to that. You see, Aaron and I fell in love partnering together. Our strengths and weaknesses are a great complement to one another. However, the reality is that in this season of life with small children our roles don't always allow us to engage in this sort of ministry very often. So the fact that I GOT TO GO was a sweet sweet thing for both of us. God used Aaron and his team in a big way to make this tournament a huge success. The final calculations are still being made, but they were on target to increase their revenue by 50%. The day weather was absolutely perfect for golfing. Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time!



Sugar Tree Golf Course. It's beautiful!



 



Registration Ready!



I love to see him in this element!

 

 

Golfers ready to start off the day!



The Sundance Group from Morgan and Stanley have adopted Project Restore Hope as one of their charity organizations. They are ambassadors for PRH. It's been such an encouragement to have their support. The Sundance group were both event sponsors, golf players, and volunteers for the golf tournament. Pictured here is Jennifer (on the left) and Diane (that's aunt Diane- on the right). They were running one of our contests. Jennifer is one of the two partners of the Sundance Group. Cari was busy golfing.


 

Speaking of Cari - after having taken up golf just a few short months ago, was runner up for Women's Longest Drive!

This sweet lady was one of the two that made it possible for me to attend. Kay came out and kept my baby while I helped with the tournament. That's life in community and it richly blesses me!




Back home, Nana had the boys.  I dropped of two little boys with their overnight bag and bikes. I got two astronauts back! They too had a blast. Just like my little guys were transformed by the day, we pray that many lives will be transformed by the funds raised! Aaron and I believe strongly in holistic ministry. This golf tournament was a small way where we were able to rally together along with a huge community of people to raise funds to enable that sort of ministry to occur. 

 



There's no place in the world I'd rather be that at his side. No matter where that puts me physically!




 

She hugs me. I melt

If my sweet Evelina has been sad for a few minutes before I'm able to get to her, when I pick her up she hugs me. Yes - both arms around my neck on either side, the weight of her body melts into me and she clinches my neck. What 6 month old does that? I've never seem a baby be able to embrace like that. It about does me in everytime.

Simple post - yes. But it's with tears clouding my eyes that I type because I don't ever want to forget that my sweet baby girl did this. I love her!

A Tale of Two Countries - Guest Blogger - Aaron

Greetings family and friends,

 

For many reasons, my fifteen days in West Africa felt like fifty. Thankfully, Joyce and the kids were well taken care of back home with her parents even flying in to play. On the other side of the ocean, it was a rich time of serving, exploring possibilities, and seeing God at work in the lives of so many people. Niger and Sierra Leone are two of the poorest countries on earth and, as a result, have certain similarities. However, the two countries differ remarkably in many ways as well. Niger is a hot, dry, conservative Muslim nation in which the ever-present red dust punishes the sinuses. It is a harsh place softened only by the common language - French - that is shared among the tribes. Sierra Leone is a verdant, mountainous land blessed with abundant natural resources, albeit deadly water supplies, and a colorfully expressive culture. Yet, the beauty of the land stands in stark, confounding contrast to the extreme poverty and despair found in this English-speaking nation rent by war.

 

I've wrestled with how to communicate my experiences in Niger and Sierra Leone with you and decided to share about a few of the lives that touched mine on this journey.

 

Sanda is a 21 year old Fulani man who lives in a tiny village in southwestern Niger. He is a goatherd of someone else's goats, allowed to live on the land for his service. Sanda is married, but not yet allowed to live with his wife. He is a slight young man, looking more like 15, but has a gentle spirit and a servant's heart. He is one of only 20 believers in Christ within a several mile radius in his region of the country. His eyes displayed an eagerness for God's Word that sparked my soul.

 

Adamou, 49 is also a Fulani who lives in Niger's capital city Niamey. He is a tall and quiet man like most Fulani, but he is passionate about the Gospel and makes friends easily. He and his wife and three kids live in a house that couldn't be more than 400 square feet and they struggle to make ends meet on her sewing income and his teaching out in the villages. He is a courageous man of conviction.

 

Phillip, 18 lives outside of Freetown in western Sierra Leone. He was orphaned at the age of two when his entire family was burned in a hut during the civil war. Phillip has participated in the Orphan Sponsorship Program for the past four years and wants to become a lawyer. He has a big, broad smile and wisdom beyond his years. His innocent heart is a salve in a nation deeply marred by corruption.

 

Hawa, 16 was left to die of neglect in a hut after losing her baby and suffering a labor-related injury called an obstetric fistula. She had no access to prenatal or obstetric care and was cast aside like a tattered doll. She was rescued by a nurse from an organization called WAFF and brought to a hospital ward in Bo, Sierra Leone where she was nursed back to health. She then had her fistula fixed by one of only two surgeons in the country capable of doing so. Soon she will have her life back.

 

Sam is a middle-aged man who is a key partner of ours in Sierra Leone. He heads a non-profit development organization, runs a primary/secondary school, leads a theological school, and pastors a church. Sam is a wise, patient man who has an equally gifted wife as his partner in many of his projects. Oh, and they have five kids! Somehow, his life has been multiplied many times over as a blessing to his countrymen.

 

I thank God that my life intersected these lives and many others on this last trip. I'm even more thankful that it doesn't have to end there.

 

Aaron Pierce

Executive Director

 

Restore Hope

www.restorehopeproject.org

facebook.com/RestoreHopeToday

China

China - as in the dishes not the country- was never on my radar. Aaron and I got married and three months later moved overseas. We didn't do the traditional registry that newlyweds do. Honestly, even if we had, I am not sure I would have registered for China. I didn't really know what it was. It's not something that my mom had, it's not common in Brazilian culture. It just wasn't on my radar. And up until this point in my life it would have just been something else to pack and move 764 times in the last 5 years. Sooooo - we didn't have it. BUT when we moved into our own home our (Aaron's - but I claim her as mine) Aunt Diane gifted us with her china.  It was given to her when she wed in the 60s. Not only did she give her what was given to her, she completed the set of serving pieces for us. If I was ever gonna have china, this is how I'd want it. It was a gift. It's been in the family for decades. It tells a story, and it's super special to me.

One night shortly after we moved in, she came over with loads of boxes. She washed each peace by hand and put it way for me. Little did we know, we had just the spot for it. I took pictures that night, but I cannot find them. Here's a couple that I just snapped. Please excuse my horrible photography!

 

 

 

While Aaron was in Africa, Aunt Diane and Cari (our cousin - her daughter) came over to hang out with all of us and cook us dinner. It was such a fun night and the spread was gourmet! AND I got to use my china!

 

 

 

These two ladies have served us in incredible ways as we have transitioned back into the states and had another baby. They made a project out of freezer meals for us and STOCKEEEEDDD us with meals and groceries. It was such a blessing! This evening was yet another extension of their love for us as they cared for us while Aaron was gone. So fun :) 

It takes a Village!

Aaron spent two weeks in West Africa at the beginning of this month. Of course being apart is never easy, but we had the wonderful blessing of Mima and Vovo (my parents) coming to stay with us. We had a great time. Having them around was a good distraction from missing Aaron. It was also INCREDIBLY helpful. My parents are amazing servants. Honestly in my early years of marriage, I sometimes misunderstood their proactive serving as invading my boundaries. Today, I see different. They love through serving us. It gave them great pleasure to fly across the country to play with grandchildren, cook, help clean, do laundry, and be a support while Aaron was gone.  All this to say, we were well loved during their visit!

 

 

What could have been a very stressful and tiresome two weeks ended up being in some ways a break for this momma. I am so thankful for my village that helps me raise my kiddos! Thank you mom and dad!