Oh.My.Gracious. – He is Up to Something BIG…

I recently began to share about what God is doing as Dw and I begin a ministry to the orphan.  I shared about the Go team arm here and before that I shared about the Orphan-Wares arm here.
The Orphan-Wares arm is the arm where people around the world make things to sell where all the proceeds go to feed the orphan.  It is you and me saying, “What can I do on a daily basis to help feed orphans around the world?”  It is you and me saying, “I care and I take caring for the orphan seriously.  I will invest my time and talents in helping to feed them.”
When the Lord first gave me the idea of making rustic candleholders from the wood that is fallen in the National Forest near our home, I had no clue He was birthing something much, much, much bigger!
Here’s what happened:
I posted here about the Orphan-Wares arm.  I shared about my dream to have the kids and I help daily to feed the orphan.  Little did I imagine that so many of you would respond and say, “I have something I can make to sell for the orphan and the proceeds will feed them too!”  I was blown away.
I posted about whether or not I should have the items shipped to me or not.  I’ll be honest, not long after posting it, I just couldn’t sleep.   I felt such an overwhelming uneasiness and my stomach was in knots.  I knew that I had to be still and listen.  Then my precious friend, Scrappy Quilter, wrote me an email and said basically, “Linny, you can’t do it all.”   
She was right.  The ministry we are beginning, in and of itself, can consume many hours.  I have ten children {and even though three are grown and on their own, there is always something going on with them as well – even if it’s just time spent on my knees on their behalf}….not to mention the seven at home{Lord willing, more soon!} and some of our treasures have special needs and pastoring and home schooling and counseling and the list goes on.  
I sensed a peace when I read Scrappy Quilter’s letter.  I knew the Lord had another plan.  I would give it to Him.  About four days later I got an email.  It was from a blog friend.  I had never heard from her before, but here’s what she basically wrote:
“We recently purchased a home with a 2400 sq. ft. shop on the property.  When we were buying this property we wondered what in the world we would do with this huge shop.  As I read your post about the orphan-wares arm of the ministry I began to wonder if we are supposed to use the shop to hold inventory and ship from?”  
I could hardly contain my sheer giddiness while reading her letter!!  I emailed her back and we set up a time to speak on the phone.   It turns out that she has been praying for a ministry that she and her family could join together and do.  She is the real deal.  We talked seriously about what this would entail.  
By the end of the conversation she was going to speak to her husband and they would pray together.  And the rest is history!!  {I will officially introduce her soon!!  Speaking to her has been such a blessing. Her excitement over what God is doing is contagious!!}  
What is God up to?  Well we’re not exactly sure – but there is NO DOUBT that He loves the orphan and He loves when people are committed to putting their words to action and doing something for the orphan!
So my new sweet friend will receive things where she lives.  And she and her family will inventory it, take pictures, post them and then when an order is received they will pull the item and ship it. 
It will be their ministry to the orphan.  
Can you believe it?
The website is being worked on….{seriously, it is driving me willy-nilly not to be able to announce it yet}….but the Orphan-Wares arm will have links to follow – whether you want to purchase or if you want to ship to the warehouse.  
And here’s what the goal of our new ministry will be:  Everyone can do something!!  Everyone MUST do something!  God’s word is clear.  If you really love Him, you are caring {action word} for the orphan
 {James 1:27}.   
I hear from women all the time whose husband is not interested in adoption, or they are at a station in life where they can’t adopt….but many, many, many have talents….sewing a quilt, knitting an afghan or scarves, ornaments for Christmas, painting items, woodworking skills, all kinds of things.  {Browse through Etsy.com and you can find a bazillion ideas!}  
When the ministry is up and running you will find practical things that you can, individually, as a family, as a small group, as a church, do to minister to the orphan.  The Orphan-Wares arm is just one part.
Can you imagine though?  Let’s say you have know how to make a quilt.  And let’s say you normally spend a few hours each week watching TV?  What if instead of watching TV you work on the quilt, or while you are watching TV you work on the quilt? You would be ministering to the orphan right from your own home!  Even if you just worked on that quilt for months – you would still be doing something to feed and care for the orphan!  And can you imagine if while you are working on that quilt you begin to intercede for the orphan, for families to want to adopt, for the orphans to come to Christ, for the workers who care for the orphan….can you just begin to imagine with me?  
Oh.My.Gracious.  
How God would move for the orphan!
So sweet bloggy friends- dream with me!!  What can you make to sell for the proceeds to go to the orphan?  Even if you consider yourself  “not so crafty”….I just betcha, if you really, really want to make something…God will give you some ideas!! Just listen to His still small voice!! 
‘Cause His heart is for the orphan and when we purpose to do something – it turns out that He has an amazing plan….come on sweet bloggy friends –

let’s do it

TOGETHER!!

26 thoughts on “Oh.My.Gracious. – He is Up to Something BIG…

  1. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes because I just knew God was going to do something big. How awesome is HE. I love that someone has come along side to help you in this area. Know that there will be quilts coming your way. Hugs and much love

  2. Oh Linny!!!! I am so excited! I have been speaking to the Lord about what I could do. We are fostering a baby girl who we hope to adopt. Our finances have been so slim due to my loss of job combined with my youngest son's diagnosis and 4 suregeries followingf over the last 2 years for pars planitis. Just before Christmas I was struggling to find gifts for my children when I stumbled upon the idea of recycling old crayons and shaping them into new and fun shapes. These cost me nothing to make as I have just been scouring the house for our old and broken crayons. I was able to sell a few bags of these at Christmas time to make a little money to buy gifts. I didn't think about sending the crayons at first because they don't bring very much money. (I sell them in bags for $2 and $3). I am also not very crafty otherwise. Then, God began to speak to me about how many people are very likely in my same boat. People who may can help just a little. People who could afford to purchase crayons, but not more expensive items. I am so excited about it now!!! I already have some snowflake crayons ready to go! I can't wait to start working on my heart crayons as well. I also lead a little Girls in Action group at church for 1st-6th grade girls. I will be getting them involved too to help make these crayons. Just like you say Linny… Yippee Jesus! God is good, all the time!

  3. I'm so excited to see this up and running and to contribute! I've been brainstorming what to make and am finally ready to get started. Thank you for organizing such a wonderful way to minister to orphans!

  4. How cool!! I am uber crafty and am using my skills to fund raise for our adoption- and I certainly can send some of my hair accessories and wristlet key fobs to your warehouse. My girls just got a sewing machine for Christmas and their first project was to make reversible skirts for their Am. girl dolls. They were fun and easy. I'd love to get my girls involved in this too. I see a skirt project evolving in our future.
    ~Kelly

  5. That is awesome! I know that my life got to overwhelming with just my stuff and God had to slow me down so I am so glad God gave you a person to use their gifts.

    I can't wait to see the website!

  6. I'm with you all the way… just haven't figure out which way yet… still list'n… :-)… my sweet God usually has to use a 2×4 on me 'cause of my old thick skull..

    With prayers and hugs,
    Barbara Lyman 🙂

  7. I am sooooo In!! I am a crafter of Girly things. Bows Outfits dresses! I would Love to craft for the orphans!!!! Please keep me updated on when and where to send the items.

  8. I am just giddy with excitement over this new ministry. I am so excited to put my talents to use in a new and exciting way!! I can't wait to send stuff and support this. I will continue to pray!!!

  9. Linny, I'm the NON-crafty person you were talking about! It's KILLING me to not be able to contribute, so today I will begin praying for the Lord to show me a way!:) So excited about this!

  10. Oh my goodness! I am probably the most un-crafty person alive, BUT I want to contribute in some way. I know how to crochet, but only very, very simply. After reading this post, I pulled my stuff out for the first time in a couple of years and began watching and reading tutorials online. I just made a couple of cute flowers and I am hoping to keep practicing and make them into hair clips for little girls!

    I'm going to head out tomorrow to buy some clips and buttons…I think that with a lot of work I might be able to contribute something. We'll see!

    THANK YOU for all of your work in this!

    -Kylee
    (big sister to four adopted sibs!)

  11. Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!! He IS up to something big! I'm excited to witness it all unfold and so very thankful God sent the right person to come along side to minister through operations and inventory. Great support! All things come together. 🙂

  12. What an exciting thing the Lord is up to. I can't wait to see the website up and running. I have been wanting to smock little girls dresses again for awhile now but had no one to give them to…now I know what I am going to do with them 😀

  13. That is so exciting, Linny! Totally amazing. 🙂
    This is kind of the same idea Alexis had almost two years ago. Self taught. The girl blows my mind. She is plugging away, ever so slowly with being a full time student and other activities. But she has now completed almost 50 blogs and three business websites. She supports Navia, a little girl from India each month, on her own…and we really do hope to travel next summer to China…or maybe India to meet Navia and love on all the orphans. It's overwhelming. So many say to me that we cannot save them all. We can't but we can help one or feed 10 or adopt one or hug a dozen on a mission trip.
    I'm so proud of Emma and the group. She's an amazing young lady. I know you are so happy and blessed that your children have a heart for the orphan. Hugs. Can't wait to see what else God will do with your new ministry…and see other children joining your home. 🙂

  14. Hi Linny,

    I was thinking about your orphan ministry today, and how expensive it is to mail stuff to USA (from Australia), a friend from the US wanted to mail me a few jelly jars but the cost of the postage was around $300 USD!!

    I had a thought, if your Orphan Wares ministry has a donation paypal, then I could just sell stuff from my etsy store and donate the proceedings to your paypal… and just a thought, if there are any bloggers that are thinking of setting up an etsy store with the intention of contributing some or all of the proceedings to the Orphan Wares ministry, then perhaps the Orphan Wares website could have a link "Etsy stores that supports our Ministry" so that anyone can click in there to shop around in the different etsy stores and buy some, knowing that a part or all of the proceedings go to the care of children?

    Just two cents 🙂

  15. I have been praying about what to make and I am so excited to see what God wants me to do!! I am also excited to see what He has others doing that I could buy. I really love buying gifts or things for around our home that are not mass-produced, that have the fingerprints of their maker on them. That's what I like about etsy and what I'll LOVE about Orphan Wares!!! I am so glad God spoke His plan to you and that you're letting us all get in on it.

    Jill

  16. I was so excited to read how God is providing. You have me thinking about getting out my bead collection and working on earrings for the orphan ministry. God is definitely working through your blog and others to bring orphan loving people around the world together. It is so good to have support for this work because it is often hard to find people locally who feel the same.

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