Wanna’ Kind of GO to Africa with Us?-Pt. 2

Wow.
You guys are awesome!
All 116 of you.

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!!

There have been many questions in your comments.
So let’s see if we can figure this out…
1.  Since the response has been wonderful, how about if each person sends one or two things? {Two sets would be perfect!}   If you only have a shirt, awesome.  I am sure there will be someone who only has ties.  I know the Lord will work it all out.  Really.  It would be much more fun to focus on one or two that are picked in love and prayed over.  Ya’ know what I mean?  
2.  I had a thought from the Lord late last night.   Ya’ know what would be extra, extra special?  How about if you write a note to go with what you send?  {And sticking in a picture of you or your family would be the cherry on top!} Of course, if you send two ties, please send two notes.  Two boys will get your two ties, so we would need two notes.  Can you imagine though, when boys receive gifts with sweet love notes from people that they don’t know?  
I was thinking about how this can be such a lesson to our kids and our grandkids or our church Sunday School class or Bible study.  If you have never been to the streets of a third world country and served the orphan there, it is really beyond words.  I walked around the slums in disbelief when Emma, Graham and I went to Africa for three weeks.  
For a teaching moment take your group outside {barefoot – unless you are in snow country and there is snow on the ground, without coats, when it is dinnertime or they are hungry.}  Then talk to them about what the street kids have. 
 Nothing.  
Where will they find food?  
Great question.  
Maybe a feeding program?  
If one exists near them.  
Where will they sleep?  
They’re on their own. 
Do they have to go to the bathroom? 
No toilet paper.
Are their hands dirty.  
Oh well.
What if their lips are chapped?
Good luck with that.
What if they cut themselves?
They have to figure it out on their own.
No band aids.  
Nothing.
What if someone bigger wants to hurt them, where do they run to?
There is no safe, warm home for them.
Imagine what it would be like.
Then pray for the boy who will receive your gift.  Pray that God will breakthrough the tough, protective exterior many of them portray.  Pray that God will minister through your gift to their soul.  That God will continue to raise up ministries to minister to these treasures.  Some of the kids living on the streets are as young as two.  They have been abandoned to try to figure life out alone.  
Can you imagine?
And always, always, always, pray with your family and friends 
that God breaks your hearts for the things that break His.
More questions answered:
Shoes, although wonderful to take, weigh too much.
Pants would be great, but really shorts are better
{They weigh less and the heat of Africa makes them much more practical.
Even basketball shorts would be wonderful!!}
Underwear would be super.
PLEASE ONLY BRAND NEW UNDIES.
waitingarms left a comment, 
part of which really bears repeating here:

I am praying that everyone who responds would have true love and compassion for the special boys and not simply send their torn and worn rejects that they would never dress their children in. Nothing communicates to a child a lack of worth than receiving torn and very worn clothes from the richest country on earth! We did a shipment of clothes to needy children in Kenya a few years ago and involved quite a number of churches. It was amazing the condition some of the donations were in – and these are from churches in pretty up scale communities! It took so much work to sort thru the donations to remove and discard the clothes that were not fit to even be used as rags. I think everyone donating should ask themselves if they were donating an item of clothing that their own child would wear to church or on a special outing.
{Thank you waitingarms for echoing our prayers as well.}  
I shop at thrift stores and yard sales all the time.  But I do not buy things that are all stained, trashed and garbagey looking.  I am sure you guys know what I’m talking about.  Let’s treat these African treasures, who have most likely never been to a wedding feast, dressed like the guests of honor should be dressed.
It reminds me of these verses :
 Luke 14:16-21 

 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
   “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
    “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
    “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
    “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’     “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’   “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.  I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Lastly, if you said that your Bible study or small group were gonna’ get on this, please would you wait to ship a larger parcel?  I am trying to find an alternate address so that another group going on the trip could receive those {like the group coming from Idaho – hint-hint}.   When we get it all figured out, I will post that! Thank you sooo much!

21 thoughts on “Wanna’ Kind of GO to Africa with Us?-Pt. 2

  1. I am really getting so excited about this. I can't wait to go shopping and pick out some very special things. Thank you for the opportunity to have a servants heart. My daughter was so so excited when I told her what you all or what we all are doing. So much fun!

  2. Linny,

    Can you email me at joykinard@yahoo.com and let me know if you prefer short sleeved or long sleeved shirts. I have an attic full of stuff (I have two boys 10 and 13.) I just want to send only what you need so you won't get things you can't take. Love this idea!

  3. The group from Idaho is definitely in. Let me know what the best way to do this is. Do you want me to post my address or do you want to send it to specific people. I am happy to do either. I know we will be collecting things here. I have 5 adorable little ties (thanks to Terah) that will start our collection in Idaho. The kids are so excited to be part of this. We talked about that parable in Luke with the girls last night and Ayla asked if they would read that at the wedding. This is such a beautiful picture of the redeeming love of Christ.

  4. I know I'm a bit late, but we're "in". When we were talking about the children this morning, one of my 5 yr old sons asked about "the girls". Are there any girls that would need clothing or is the ministry only for boys? Regardless, we'll be sending a few for "the boys", but would love to help out some girls too if there was a way/need.

  5. Melissa and I got the message about the group in Idaho. I will send you a private email message so you can let us know who to mail our stuff to. What about shorts and new flip flops – would they be too heavy?

  6. Just wanted to let you know that you will have two shirts and ties coming from Alabama! We are so excited to be doing this. I echo someone else, are there any girls that need help as well?

  7. I had a thought. What if when we all sent our things if we each put 2 dollars in with our shirts and ties to help with luggage expense. Just a thought it came to me while I was in bed last night. I am super excited !!

  8. LOVE what you all are doing! My husband and I leave on March 12th for Kampala, Uganda… a trip to work with 5 different orphanages and orphan ministries… a couple are with street kids… my heart can't wait! God is doing amazing things in our family… not sure where this journey will take us… maybe adoption, maybe Uganda long term. Thank you for speaking out for orphans… God is using you in amazing ways!!!

  9. I didn't get a chance to comment before – but I want to be in on this! Have just dug out my old school tie and will go shopping a bit later.
    Thanks for allowing us to be part of this!

  10. I am so excited!! I have two girls and I can't wait to shop for boys :-).. I took my six year old after school and was so sad when all I could find was shirts. I saw someone else had asked and I'm sure you will probably post it – short or long sleeve. You can email me at knoxkd@gmail.com.

  11. I am in! Will go shopping today. I can't wait to buy boy clothes as I only had girls and my girls have girls. Blessings on The Team. I liked the idea of also adding money to help with the cost of 'shipping'. (word verification phonetically comes out Praises)

  12. I would be honored to help out. Please let me know what would be the best way (and where to ship things), or I am assuming that you will let us know. And yes, thecosts for the shipping probably will help as well. Even if everyone chips in 10 bucks (which is like nothing), I'm sure it will help.

  13. Linny,
    Are you looking for plain dress shirts (white, blue, plain button up). Because I have a BEAUTIFUL orange plaid kind of button up shirt that I LOVED on my son and it keeps coming to mind when I read your posts. Only worn a couple of times. It would need a very plain tie. Would that be OK? I was hoping our next would wear it, but he'll have lots of clothes. (Hoping we hear about him very soon!!!) Thanks! ~Christy

  14. Linny, I have a problem. I have been to every store in town (I know it says Knoxville, but I am 60 miles south) and there are NO little boys' dress shirts. I spoke to an associate at each store and they said that in the small sizes there are only polo type shirts. I saw some good looking ones in the stores but did not purchase. There are plenty of the 'basketball' shorts in the correct sizes. Of course, no dress shirt = no ties. Please advise as to what I should purchase.

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