127WorldWide | All is Well

On Orphan Care

This weekend, I finally got to meet Geoffrey Keronga. Geoffrey is the founder of Acres of Hope in Uganda. Last night, as we were taking a 30 minute walk from FBC to a restaurant in downtown Nashville, I received the gift of getting to talk to him at length about the orphans he cares for in Uganda. They use a pod house model to not only care for orphans, but to provide widows with a “job” and a home as well, caring for these children. His compassion is so large. So enormous. Visit their website for more information. If you would be interested in going to Uganda with me, please contact me by using the contact form in the navigation bar above. I’d love to have you join me!

I’m in Nashville this weekend for a board meeting of 127WorldWide Ministries. What a great time of getting to meet with people passionate about Orphan Care. I also got to meet the incredible staff of 127 and hear their personal journey in obeying James 1:27. It was challenging, exciting, exhausting, overwhelming and convicting. Fantastic. Interested in hearing more? Please contact me or check out the 127WorldWide website.

On Books

When in Nashville, one might want to visit The Grand Ole Opry, Opryland Hotel, Legends Corner, or The Ryman Auditorium. Those things are great, but not what I want to see today before flying home. Nope, I want to go to McKay’s Used Book Store. Oh, my goodness. There is nothing like it. I’m glad I checked a bag and that there is plenty of room and poundage left to stuff some books in there.

On Churches Doing Orphan Care Well

Also this weekend, I had the privilege of meeting several church members from Long Hollow Baptist Church here in Nashville. This church not only understands orphan care, but does it strategically well. From foster care and adoption support here in the United States, to ministry overseas in Uganda and Haiti and elsewhere–they make James 1:27 a priority. And, from visiting their website, they make missions a priority overall. Jonah’s Journey, an orphanage aimed at providing care for children with incarcerated parents, was birthed out of Long Hollow BC. If you are in the Nashville area and are looking for a church home, check them out. But be sure you are ready to be challenged to grow spiritually and ready to meet needs of those around you.

On Ice Cream

Oh, for the love of all things cold and sweet. Never before have I experienced such an unusual ice cream adventure. Jeni’s Ice Cream is not an uniquely Nashville “thing”, but I couldn’t not put it here. We visited Jeni’s late last night. The line was out the door. I’ve never seen ice cream flavors such as they had–Goat Cheese and Wild Cherries, Middle West Whiskey Eggnog, Lime Cardamom Buttermilk—it was a smorgasbord of unique flavors. Yum yum yum yum.

On The Batman Building

I love the Batman Building. I don’t know why; I just always have. We were at First Baptist in downtown Nashville for much of yesterday, so I had some great views of this wonderful/terrible eyesore/architectural masterpiece.

For those who might now know, there are several of us across the United States that have taken up a challenge to live similarly to how the Kenyan’s live, especially those that are orphans. We are motivated to do this, to raise the awareness of the needs, as well as to advocate for adoption and support of these overpacked, struggling orphanages.

127WorldWide is a mission organization started by my good friend SaraBeth. Her heart is for mobilization as well as the orphanages in both Kenya, Uganda and other countries.

For 10 days, I will eat like a Kenyan eats, which means water for breakfast, Ugali for lunch and water for dinner. Since I do not have the ingredients or the time to make ugali (a staple in Kenya and other countries) I will be substituting rice.

Today was day one. I am reminded tonight in my hunger, that there are children all over the world, not just in Kenya, who have nothing to eat. I could easily break this fast, go into my kitchen and eat an obscene amount of food. That option is not available to the Kenyans, or other countries. Tonight I am praying for my good friend Rose Bagusa, who runs an orphanage near Kakamega in Kenya. I’m praying for the children that I remember, and for those that are new residents.

Below is a map of Kenya: