Ethiopia Trip 2011/Fundraising, prepping and vaccines

The anniversary of my first mission trip is almost here. Because I saved many posts in drafts and never got around to sharing, this whole week will be used to share every day that I was in Ethiopia on the same coinciding date. Brittany and I spent days and months fundraising, praying, seeking the Lord. At times, I wondered if this was truly God's will. At those times He'd give confirmations along the way, a note of encouragement, a verse or a donation. I couldn't believe everything was falling into place. What amazed me the most is those that provided to get me there. Surprisingly, it seems those with the least amount of money gave the most to help me help orphans, my dream. I couldn't believe the Lord was finally granting the desires of this mamas heart. I always thought I'd have to wait until old age to reach this life goal. That He would give me favor and answer so obviously was surprising for me! It was truly miraculous. There were times I worried, wondered and agonized over if all the money would come in. I'd pray pray pray and at the deadline of each necessary step the funding would come in at the last moment. Here we are on 7/12/11. At 6:14 pm we received confirmation that ALL the funding came in and I was set to LEAVE! JOY from Set apart for Him paid the balance off. You have no IDEA how big the Happy Dance was that we did! We jumped we hollered, we PRAISED the Lord!

Most people were really supportive. A very few people commented negatively. The bible is pretty clear on the responsibility of a Christian. James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world." It doesn't say wait until your children are older and out of the house. It doesn't say once you are retired or empty nesters. It says PURE RELIGION INVOLVES ORPHAN CARE! If you claim to be Christian, than you need to be helping the orphan and the poor. My leaving for 10 days wasn't me abandoning my children or forsaking my responsibilities at home. I have homeschooled my children since 3,these children have had no other caregiver their entire lives. I've only ever left them at the birth of a sibling. I've been a homemaker for over a decade now. The thing that irks me, those that commented do nothing, and I do mean nothing for orphans or the poor. Nor did donate even a pair of underwear, socks, coloring book or so much as a toothbrush, malaria net, or formula for children who have NOTHING. Funny how you can have encouragement of many, and it only takes a few negative comments to cause doubt. They did occasionally grip my heart with fear and doubt from the evil one. At one time I felt unworthy of His blessing. I worried if the plane would crash or a terrorist attack. At one point I wanted to leave a post saying if the Lord took me and you donated please don't feel bad, it's just the Lord's will. I also wanted to complete a small book of everything I've ever wanted to share with my children written down "in case." Finally the Lord told me to take every thought captive and that His plans for me were good. I resolved to not deal with fear mongers and nay sayers or give them anymore brainspace. Thankfully when I felt unsure or worried my husband would pray for me encourage me, tell me how blessed it would be and how excited he and the children were for me. My husband is amazing. If he would have showed even the slightest doubt I would have been to fearful to go. Instead he spurred me on. Love him. So many milestones were FANTASTIC, like getting my 1st passport. Here I am getting a couple vaccines. Here the kids are filming me get my vaccines!

Then off we went to celebrate the boys birthday a day early.

Party w/ a Purpose!

This day last year... my sweet friend Brenda helped us plan our Party with a Purpose. It was nice. We let people drop in anytime during the 4 hour gathering so people were stopping by throughout the day. Here we collected donations, did a short spiel on Ethiopia, fundraised a bit and made cards for the orphan kiddos. The kids had so much fun! I am bummed I didn't take more photos. Thank you to all who came out to lend support. We made Ethiopian foods so the children could experience the culture a bit and colored pictures. They got to see the Ethiopian alphabet. My favorite was when one of the kids wrote "Dear Orphans"... then thought about it for a moment and began again and wrote "Dear Friends" instead. Well played Josh! ;-) Later you will see photos of us giving these out to kids in Ethiopia! It was wonderful and we were blessed to share about Ethiopia, a beautiful, ancient fascinating culture and country.

Here we made ( or at least tried to make) Injera, ( the tortilla like bread) iab, the yummy yogurty type dish and dorowat. ( chicken in red pepper paste) Afterward we sorted the donations, started clean up and the kids had a question for us here... How could we say no? :-)

True Friends...

I just returned from a most life changing trip. Many amazing people prayed and donated to help me get to this place of walking in what I was created to do. The place of following God's call of faithfulness, of walking on water and of battling the demons of discouragement from my past. Many have loved me with a Christlike love that blessed and enabled me to do the things Jesus Himself did.

I wanted to preface by saying that I am a loyal friend. My family is the one you see at every birthday party. We have helped countless friends move, we give whatever we have either it be childcare, knowledge, resources or experience. I learn so much from so many amazing wonderful mentors and each thing I learn or anything that can bless I pass on to anyone interested. I was also allowed to see those that I have stayed up late at night more times than I can count praying over friends in crisis, giving them resources, bible verses etc. The Lord showed me that some of these friends must have some issue with me. Some of these that I have poured my heart and life into in the past, tend to be the most critical of me. They seem to always try to snuff out my aspirations of doing mighty works of service for Christ but at the same time copy a great many things from me. I can't be all that bad. :-) It's been said that that imitation is the highest form of flattery. That is true enough. It occurs to me however, that some of those I prayed for the most never called me the entire time my little son was ill in and out of the hospital with a life threatening blood disorder. They and are so negative about the wonderful opportunities taking place within our family, it's so unsettling. Some either make belittling comments or totally ignore my heart for ministering compassion to those in need despite my being enthusiastically supportive of their endeavors. One thing I have noted is that those that are the most critical seem to do the least. Those that made comments donated not even a pair of underwear, not a pair of shoes, not a stick of toothpaste or even a bottle of tylenol or formula to help those literally with NOTHING. Some while flaunting, doing extravagant things like theme park passes and more. I'm not telling anyone what to do with their money but we've been super poor and I've NEVER let a friend adopt of venture on a mission trip where I didn't sacrifice something to sow into the dreams of those that I love even if all I could give was $20, a malaria net or bottles/formula for babies. If you can't donate, you can at least be prayerful and encouraging. However it is NEVER acceptable allow one's self to be an accuser of the brethren or mouthpiece for the evil one. Also there are many hurting people and lots of work to be done. If you don't like our methods of ministering you can always show us yours.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister GRACE to the hearers.

Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will." 

HELP! Deadline approaching/MUST WATCH VIDEO!!

If you want to grow in your walk with the Lord, please watch this video. It is the best eye opening 7 minute video I've seen. It.will.change.your.life! I promise. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHJ6-YhSYQ
Depraved Indifference

Dear Friends,
Thank you to the many who have generously donated toward my fundraising goal! I am in the final stretch of fundraising and need to hit my goal by July 5th. (3 days) I have an urgent prayer request. My heart has been moved, my spirit has been stirred. I have recently been diagnosed with a very serious very chronic disorder. It's called O.O. D. ( Obsessive Orphan Disorder) Sufferers of O.O.D. typically suffer loss of sleep thinking about the153 million children without parents, lack of appetite thinking about the many children that wondering where next meal will come from, and heart issues when feeling led to do something about it! There are several courses of treatment for O.O.D. 1) Is to go personally and "Visit orphans" ( James 1:27) This temporarily alleviates the Symptoms. The only real cure for O.O.D sufferers is adoption. I've dreamed of going to Africa to assist orphans since I was a little girl in fostercare. I've been given the opportunity to go w/ Ordinary Hero to ETHIOPIA in 2 weeks! (TWO SHORT WEEKS!!) It seems totally illogical and even CRAZY given our present circumstance. I am stepping out in faith that God will provide every single penny needed to go! I am ALMOST FULLY FUNDED! I need just a bit more. Brittany Buttram and I need about $1500 between the two of us! The TICKETS have been purchased. If we don't come up with the remainder needed by July 5th, ( 3 days) Brittany and I don't travel! Please help us help ORPHANS and donate today!!! THANK YOU, Alida w5
To donate visit https://www.visitingorphans.org/donations/donate.aspx It will ask "Would you like to designate this donation to a specific team member?" PLEASE REMEMBER to click "YES" and type in "ALIDA RODRIGUEZ" then shoot me an email letting me know you did! Many thanks for your prayers and support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

We also appreciate supplies for the children such as;
*warm clothing,
*light weight jackets,
*toothbrushes/toothpaste,
*tylenol,
*diaper cream,
*formula,
*close toed shoes,
*clothing for children ages 10-15. (older kids can sometimes be forgotten)

Tough decisions! Adding Uganda??

I am so thrilled to overflowing and blessed! It is AMAZING to me how the Lord has moved MIGHTILY to bring me nearly all the funds needed to travel! In such a short time. It's quite miraculous to me. When I first sought the Lord about going on a mission trip and after my hubby encouraged me and gave me the go ahead, I was suddenly overcome with doubt! I allowed a few negative people to put doubts of the Lords provision in my mind. What if I shared my goal of going and the funds didn't come in? Wouldn't I look foolish? Wouldn't I be SO humiliated and embarrassed? It caused anxiety even thinking about asking for help with funding. After all, you can't embarrass yourself if you don't step out in faith. It really took me mustering up alot of courage, laying down my pride and getting over my immense hurdle/fear of failure. Many hearts were moved and now I am nearly at my goal! You may say "of course Alida, where God guides He provides." However, though I've walked with the Lord for sometime, I still at times, struggle with trusting Him to provide for ALL of my needs. I also struggle with feeling protected by Him. ( childhood spent in foster care) I sometimes feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop or for some awful thing to befall me, because they do tend to. Rather than seeing all that I go through as things He's rescued me and saved me from, I some times think "Lord what awful thing is next? (even though He has proved Himself to me countless times) This stems from trust issues dealing with my upbringing and abandonment issues I'm still working on. I believe that He wants to radically HEAL, deliver me and give me FREEDOM in this area and wants to use this trip to do it. I look forward seeing how He'll grow and mature my faith in areas like this!

A NEW incredible opportunity has presented itself for Brittany Buttram (AMAZING homeschool graduate/college student) & I to visit ETHIOPIA AND UGANDA to volunteer!! ( a HUGE dream of BOTH of ours) I'm praying the Lord's direction and will AND funds to needed ASAP to travel. Because we'd be visiting two countries we'd need slighly more funding. $3600-3800 instead of the $3200. I'd need about $1000 or so more and Brittany would need about $2000. It's difficult to decide. It's a few days longer but it's the trip of a lifetime. I doubt I'll have an opportunity like this again.
In Uganda, our team would spend one day working at Amazima Ministries with their feeding program and with the children of the Karamajong tribe. We'll meet physical and financial needs by bringing supplies and donations from the U.S. We will spend several days with the kids at Canaan Children's Home and several days at Return Ministries. In Ethiopia we'll work in partnership with Project 61's ministry which reaches out to the children who live and work in the city dump. We will also visit children in orphanages throughout Addis Ababa.

Please pray for wisdom on if we should pursue this route. We'd need funding within the next couple days! Also, if possible, and if you so feel lead, please donate. Every penny over my total goes directly to Brittany. Remember it's completely TAX DEDUCTIBLE! We appreciate it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Alida Rodriguez

Village of Korah

Here is a clip that speaks about some of the work we will do there among the Ethiopians. It's about the Village of Korah, the leper colony & Korah dump. It's dwelling place of widows, orphans, lepers and other societal outcasts. Many lives were changed just from some that came on a mission trip similar to the one I hope to go on . Many lives have been transformed with sponsors, schooling and uniforms, medical care etc. Let's bring the Hope of Jesus to those that feel unimportant and forgotten. I love how Samuel says in 3:48 "They think the children and people here are cursed and unimportant, But we ARE important!" http://www.youtube.com/user/Session7Media#p/u/5/f4pgQvgdNqs Thank you for watching. Please pray I'll raise all the needed funds by May 31st! Be Blessed! Alida w5

Date has been changed!

Hello Precious friends,
First I wanted to THANK Those of you that have donated to Visiting Orphans on my behalf! I and my team certainly appreciate your gift! Thank you for helping us help orphans!

Friends, I need your help! Many of you are aware I was previously scheduled to go to Ethiopia in April with Project Hopeful. PH has received much needed publicity as an organization with many magazine artilces, TV & radio interviews that they wanted to use those opportunities to raise awareness on how we can help HIV orphans. The trip has been postponed. I am going with another beloved group "Ordinary Hero" hosted by Visiting Orphans in JULY!!! (God willing) It is my hope that the Lord will use this trip to bless orphans and widows and to advocate for those who without a voice. I pray that my heart will become broken with that which breaks His heart. I hope to share in the fellowship of his suffering and bring hope and joy and the power of His resurrection to those in need.

After much prayer I am stepping out in faith for provision for this trip. I have less than 1 week to raise $1600 needed for the flight ( May 31st) and after that I'll need to raise $1500 more. We hope to also bless the orphanage with an item such as a stove, water purification system or playground.

Please pray for me and my team. Pray that we would be fruitful and productive during our time there. Please also consider donating to help me get there! May 31st is the deadline! The GREAT news is that IT'S TAX DEDUCTIBLE!! Would you happen to know of any organization or businesses that could sponsor me? PLEASE email me if you do. It would make a great write off and is for a great cause. Every little bit helps! Any money raised over this amount goes blesses ORPHANS with items like either a new stove, water purification, or playground.

To donate visit https://www.visitingorphans.org/donations/donate.aspx It will ask "Would you like to designate this donation to a specific team member?" PLEASE REMEMBER to click "YES" and type in "ALIDA RODRIGUEZ". PLEASE, HELP ME HELP ORPHANS, and get a tax break to boot. :-) If you have any items you wish to get rid of, I'd gladly pick them up to help raise the funds needed to travel. Thank you so much for your help and your prayers! Alida w5
Feel free to share this post!

What does it take to help orphans? Any amount helps me get to $3100!
If 620 people donated $5.00 = $3100!
If 310 people donated $10.00 = $3100!
If 155 people donated $20.00 = $3100!
If 103 people donated $30.00 = $3100!
If 62 people donated $50.00 = $3100!
If 31 people donated $100 = $3100! You get the Picture! Thank you for any donation of ANY amount! Bless you. Alida w5

I'm Going to AFRICA!!!

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. Mother Teresa

James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

Dear Friends,
I have an urgent prayer request. Please HELP!!! The past year I have seen God move in amazing ways. He’s brought us through hospitalizations, healed my son Josiah of a life threatening illness, and carried us during numerous trials. Jesus has been so faithful. God has broken my heart with a deep unquenchable desire to bless orphans.

IN APRIL, I’M GOING TO E. AFRICA (God willing) with Project Hopeful& Visiting Orphans to visit HIV orphans in Ethiopia and Uganda. We'll visit children in the Mother Theresa Orphanage, visit the outcasts at the Korah leper colony, bless children living & working in the dump, love on the fatherless HIV children and tell them about Jesus. Then it’s off to Uganda to share about HIV prevention and work with local children ministries. It seems totally illogical, CRAZY even downright foolish considering our present circumstance. However, I know that God takes the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. ( 1 Cor. 1:27) He equips the called. I am stepping out in faith that if Jesus formed this deep conviction to care for orphans in me, He'll provide every single penny needed. I can think of 100 reasons not to go. In the natural it seems impossible but NOTHING is too difficult to God. I want to be bold and attempt great things for Jesus. Wouldn't it be neat if I met my children there? The kids we're supposed to adopt?

There is an African Proverb that says "Pray, but when you pray, move your feet."

Please pray the funds will come in. Please also, if possible, consider donating to help me get there! I need to raise $3600, half needed ASAP to book my ticket. Any money raised over this amount goes directly to bless ORPHANS with items like either a new stove, water purification, or playground. To donate visit https://www.visitingorphans.org/donations/donate.aspx It will ask "Would you like to designate this donation to a specific team member?" Please click "yes" and type in "Alida Rodriguez". Not only will you help me help ORPHANS, it's also TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!!! If you have any items you wish to get rid of, I'd gladly pick them up to help raise the funds needed to travel. Thank you so much for your prayers, support and for loving "the least of these." I know we may not all wish to go overseas, but we can always support those who do! Bless you,Thank you. In Jesus, Alida w5

"The journey of 1000 miles ( or in this case 9108) starts with a single step!!!" Chinese Proverb
"Growth demands a temporary surrender of security." Gail Sheely
Isaiah 6:8 "Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom will I send? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
Isaiah 1:17 "Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!

Interview with MOTHER Teresa: A Pencil In the Hand Of God

Interview with MOTHER Teresa: A Pencil In the Hand Of God