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!!