For a Friend I’ve Never Met Before Fundraiser

So, I’ve got another friend. Well, sort of. See- her husband is friends with my sister-in-law and when my sister-in-law was living with us while in vet school, we became friends with the husband, except he wasn’t a husband yet. And I haven’t seen him since he graduated from vet school and I’ve never officially met this friend (his wife). I came to be friends with her because of a different friend when my sister-in-law was visiting the new friend (because my sister-in-law is now friends with both the husband and the wife) and she found out she was coming near the different friend’s home and would my sister-in-law please bring something to her friend since she was coming to visit us?

?

Translation: another friend- Tamara; her husband/our friend from vet school- Ryan; my sister-in-law- Denise; my different friend/her friend- Janel

Tamara is my friend because I know her husband, Ryan because of Denise’s friendship with him during vet school years AND because Denise brought something for Janel from Tamara.

It’s a small, small world.

I’ve never met Tamara actually.

So, why am I writing about a friend I’ve never met before? ‘Cause.

Tamara and Ryan have adopted a big-smiled boy from Ethiopia named Judah. But when they adopted him, they left part of their heart in Ethiopia and asked God to use them to help those in distress and He is. This past year they got involved with FOVC- Friends of Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Here’s FOVC’s mission statement:

Our mission is to educate and support orphans, vulnerable children & widows in Ethiopia,
empowering them to break the cycle of poverty and hunger as we offer them hope and independence for the future.

Tamara told me a big reason for her and Ryan choosing to adopt from Ethiopia was because of Denise and her vet mission work there! I’d just like to insert a little thought- Denise stepped out in faith when she went to Ethiopia. God placed that specific country in her heart to love. That, in turn, raised Ryan and Tamara’s awareness of Ethiopia and helped bring Judah home. And now to join the efforts of FOVC to reach many, many more. The trickle down effect, instead of growing weaker the further it extends, grows greater and greater!! That is only God! If God loved only His son, we would never be saved. But God, not sparing his Son, sent Him to die, to take away our sins. (hymn How Great Thou Art and John 3:16) From one man, many  will be made righteous. (paraphrasing Romans 5:19)

I became aware of Ryan and Tamara’s efforts with FOVC via a guest blog post on Janel’s blog. It’s a really great post and I ask that you pop over there and read her words from her heart. Tamara blogs about their adoption journey at Journey 4 Hope.

Then, when you are done, pray. Pray for whatever God puts on your heart to pray for them and for FOVC.  Pray for this organization as it grows. Pray for Tamara as she is personally involved with her time and travel over there for the hope given to us all. Then give. The puzzle is unique, fun, easy. Buy a puzzle piece per child, niece/nephew, grandchild, neighbor kid, etc. The t-shirt: Well, who doesn’t want an awesome t-shirt? Homecoming shirt- nah! A t-shirt with eternal significance? Yah!

Here is always a favorite: CASH! Plain and simple. Yep- that’ll get it done every time!!

Please do.

You know what your story could be? “So, one day, back when the old Earth still was, I read this blog of a crazy Jesus follower and she was weaving what she thought was an spectacular story of these four people she knew, but in actuality, it was really lame. Anyway, she asked for prayer and money for these orphans and widows in Ethiopia and I gave some. Huh. I never heard how that all worked out but I did it anyway and I knew it brought God glory.” Then a little brown-skinned girl with a quiet spirit about her will be courageous enough to speak up and say, “It worked out.”

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Matthew 25: 35, 40