2nd shipment of soccer balls hit Africa!!

On March 19th, just after Macey's 2nd party in Atlanta, we got word that there was a group from Delta Airlines World Headquarters headed to Katlehong, Africa to work on houses for Habitat for Humanity.  We were told that they were going to a village where there would be kids who would love to have soccer balls.  The team asked if they could possibly take some of the soccer balls over with them.  Wow!!!  It was definitely another miracle in this story!!  We had received so many more balls than we had ever imagined, that we had plenty left to give them.  In fact, they took around 50 to the village!!  As soon as the balls were handed out, Macey received pictures!! What a happy day!!!  Thank you to Elaine Miller and the staff at Delta Airlines who helped in this mission!!!!

Dr. Meredith Denton in Malawi

Dr. Meredith Denton is a pediatrician in Arkansas.  She went with a group on a two week mission trip to Malawi, Africa and has just returned.  She took the first set of soccer balls out of The United States and into Africa!!  We got word from her precious sister that some of the soccer balls didn't make it out of the US due to baggage issues.  After just a few days, Macey received the most numbing picture.  We knew that the kids she was going to visit lived in extreme poverty and did not have much.  We knew that there was a chance they did not have a soccer ball that was new and in good condition, but we just didn't think that they had never seen one.  The precious picture Meredith sent was of her and many children walking in the village where she was.  In the front of the picture (without being asked to pose), there is a boy holding up their soccer ball.  It was like no soccer ball we have ever seen.  It was as round as it could be, but looked like it was made from scraps or possibly even trash.  It immediately brought tears to everyone's eyes that saw the picture.  I took the picture as an affirmation to Macey that the selfless act of collecting soccer balls really did matter.  I thanked God for the opportunity to buy balls, collect balls, throw a party to gain more balls, ship balls, etc.
Last week Meredith contacted us saying that there was a pastor who wanted more than anything to start a soccer league over there so that kids could have a positive activity right in the village.  He said that there were plenty of people to organize and coach!  There were tons of kids wanting to play, but all they were lacking were......    You guessed it; SOCCER BALLS!!!  Praise The Lord that the rest of the balls did not make it over with Meredith!!  They might had already been passed out.  There is a team leaving in the summer that will take the balls and deliver them to the pastor to get their soccer program up and running!!!  Praise The Lord!!!! 

Thank you so much Dr. Meredith Denton!!!!

Amazing party in Atlanta!!

On Friday, March 18th, Macey and I headed for ATL for her 2nd birthday party!!  How cool to have TWO birthday parties and send all the presents to Africa!!  Needless to say, we had a blast!  When we arrived, we enjoyed the entire day with our family!  Mimi and Aunt Emmy had everything done and ready, so we had all day to play and enjoy each other.

Saturday was such a blast getting all the balls ready that had made it to Atlanta over the course of two weeks.  All but 25 balls (those went to Malawi and will be in the next post) from The Woodlands made it and were a display to welcome the new incoming balls.  It was such a joy watching Macey greet family and friends coming in with balls.  It was a joy watching her have conversations with adults and hearing her heart for the less fortunate over and over.  I thanked God for a vessel that is being used for His glory and His purpose!!
There were many highlights on the day of the party!  One special one was getting to meet our new, sweet friend, Joe Garcia.  It seems as though we have known him forever even though our friendship with Joe is a new one.  Joe is the President of Serv Ministries which graciously agreed to take all the soccer balls to their orphanage in Kenya.  Joe and the others going with Serv Ministries will be taking the largest shipment of soccer balls!!  There will be enough for them to take a ball for every child in the orphanage at least twice.  Macey and Joe connected instantly!  The love that they share for kids who are hurting and struggling is amazing.  Macey was definitely inspired by Joe and his ministry.  We both appreciate him coming to celebrate with us more than he will ever know and we look forward to getting to know him better.  We cannot wait for the rest of our family to meet him.  Thank you Joe!!

As the party went on, our mound of soccer balls quickly grew into a mountain!!  It was unbelievable to see the balls everywhere.  It took 4 people with pumps quite a while to deflate them all.  Macey was elated and thank God for how he was going to use something so simple as a ball to make a difference in children's lives!  

We left for The Woodlands on Sunday with happy hearts!!  Immediately when Macey got home, she caught the rest of our family up to speed on how the weekend had gone.  She told them about Serv Ministries and started learning and reading about the 30 precious kiddos they help there.  She immediately connected with 2 of them and asked if she could sponsor one.  We started praying about it.  She sponsors two precious children already and Todd and I reminded her of the financial commitment that comes along as well.  We knew that God would lead us if that was what we were supposed to do.  We thought it would be so great for Macey to have a relationship with a child who was directly affected by the hard work of collecting all the balls.  Just as we were talking to her about it all, Joe called with the EXACT same thoughts!  Macey is now sponsoring a beautiful 5 year old girl named Cicilia!! Macey is so excited to know that her relationship with Cecilia will be a more personal one since Joe travels to Kenya several times a year.  Who knows, maybe Macey will get to meet her face to face someday!!!  

Praise The Lord!!!

What a Party!!!

On Saturday, March 5, Macey had her birthday party in The Woodlands!!  We had a blast!!  Despite the cold and windy day, many people showed bearing soccer balls of every color and size!  Almost all of her precious team was there!!  Praise the Lord, we lost count at 90 soccer balls!!  They keep coming in from those who couldn't make it (we completely know how Saturdays are).  The first shipment has already been packed up and sent to Atlanta awaiting to go to Kenya in May.  More balls leave this Friday for Arkansas and then for Malawi on Saturday.  Please pray that the balls make it into the hands of children who need them most.  Please pray that these kids will see the light of Jesus in the precious individuals who excitedly pass these balls along.  Hopefully lots of laughter and memories will be made!! 
THANK YOU to Macey's family, friends, teammates, pastors, mentors, teachers, etc. who saw her vision and came alongside!!  Together we make a difference!!

Many more pictures to come!!

My First Soccer Ball!!

Well it doesn't take long for people to get the mission and help!! Before the invite even went out, Macey received the first ball for a child in Africa!!  She was soooo excited!!  It came from none other than a great soccer buddy!!  We think this ball is for a sweet GIRL in Africa!! God knows who you are and we think you are going to love it!!  Thank you sweet Megan!!

History in the making

Two years ago, Macey eagerly asked if she could adopt a child from Compassion International.  We had prayed about it since it was a monthly commitment and wanted to be sure it would have a lasting impact on our family.  We had no idea what impact it would have!!!  In July of 2009, Macey adopted Daniel (Dien) from Indonesia.  We write him regularly and hear from him as well.  Macey quickly plastered pictures of Dien in her room and started praying for him regularly.  He and his family became a constant topic of conversation in our home and was used as examples for how blessed we are.  In May of this year, Macey was asked to pray before our church congregation for those who live in poverty stricken areas of the world.  She bared her heart and The Lord was given praise.  Around October of this year; with a heart full of humility and passion, Macey told Todd and I that all she wanted for Christmas was another Compassion child.  We could see the Lord working and tugging at her heart.  We could hear the sincerity in her voice.  We praised The Lord that she was seeing what we were placed on this Earth to do; help others in need, think of others before ourselves, and give honor and glory to our God most high.  Christmas morning, Macey jumped for joy as she read Mohammad's biography.  She was quickly saddened as she learned that Mohammad lives in Africa without a Father and a Mother.  Just as we write Dien, we write Mohammad as well.  It is heart warming to know that there are amazing organizations such as Compassion and Serv Ministries that truly change children's lives.  Through Dien and Mohammad's stories, our children have come to understand a little about how other children live.  They were shocked as they learned that what we daily take for granted, others will never even see.  They were shocked to learn that small things such as macaroni and cheese and soccer balls are precious over there.  Macey wanted to help others like Dien and Mohammad enjoy one of the things she loves the most; soccer!!!  She decided that since her birthday was approaching, it would be fun to collect soccer balls for boy and girls in Africa.  We had no idea how this would happen or what was about to transpire.  We suddenly became very excited and started spreading the news and oh how the news did spread!! Something so little and a forethought in a 10 year old's mind quickly became huge.  In January, I was told through my sister (Macey's Aunt) that the President of Serv Ministries in Atlanta had heard of our project and would be traveling to Kenya in May.  He told us that he would LOVE to carry as many balls as Macey could collect with the team on their trip.  We couldn't believe it; a straight path into the heart of Africa!  After taking the news in, Macey quickly got a saddened look on her face.  She told us that even though this was great, she would be sad not to see the end of the story.  What would the children do when they were given their very first soccer ball?  Todd and I both told her that we serve a big God and we needed to commit that to prayer.  The very next day we learned that their would be a college student going with the team to Africa to take pictures!  Wow!  Joe Garcia from Serv Ministries excitedly told us that we would get to see lots of pictures of the kids receiving their balls.   Since that amazing day, we have also learned of two other teams that are wonderful and eager to take soccer balls to Africa.  Into The Streets of Ethiopia is an amazing organization that raises funds to provide formula to 40+ orphans each month in Ethiopia.  Dr. Meredith Denton who will be traveling to Malawi to help as a physician in an orphanage in just 2 short weeks, will be taking balls as well.
God is an amazing God and with him we can do amazing things together!!  We need your help!!  Please join us in changing children's lives simply by donating a soccer ball or more.  To us, it is so simple.  To the less fortunate, it might be the only ball they ever see!!
We will be collecting soccer balls (preferably ball sizes 3 and 4) on Saturday, March 5 from 2 pm to 5 pm at Shadowbend Park in The Woodlands, Texas.  Please spread the word to your family and friends!!  Children will be able to make cards for the kids in Africa who will be receiving the soccer balls.
We encourage you to check Macey's blog regularly as we will update with stories and pictures of the soccer balls arriving in Africa.  We also encourage you to check out the following websites which have all been instrumental in this amazing adventure!!!


www.compassion.com
www.intothestreetsofethiopia.blogspot.com
www.servintl.org
www.puremission.org

"Kicking" for Him,

The Crowders