An Evening of Praise -- Concert THIS FRIDAY!

   Last year, a sweet sweet gal with a heart of gold and the gift of song started worshiping with our church family at Greencastle Christian Church. The Lord blessed Bobbie Lancaster tremendously with the gift of music! On her website: www.bobbielancaster.com she shares that she dedicated her life this last year to "concentrate on her family, revive her spirit, and listen to the voice of God." Bobbie has written and composed song after song that bring glory and praise to our Almighty Father. Our church is so thankful for her willingness to bare her soul in pursuing her passion for the Lord and she has led us in so many amazing times of worship together.

   This Friday, February 22nd, she will be holding An Evening of Praise: Fundraising Concert at Greencastle Christian Church. I am so excited for this opportunity to hear more of her music! Absolutely anyone and everyone is invited to join us and I guarantee you will not walk away without feeling blessed by her words, voice and talent on the mandolin!

   Last week I received a message from her regarding her gift of music and our passion for The Fold Children's Home in South Africa. Here is an excerpt of her events schedule on her website that will share more about this wonderful surprise of a message with you:

• Friday, February 22
• An Evening of Praise: Fundraising Concert!
• 7:00 pm
• Greencastle Christian Church, 620 Primrose Ct, Greencastle, IN (MAP)
• Bobbie Lancaster has traveled the country performing as a singer songwriter, but she's found her true purpose in writing songs of praise for The Lord. 
  
  As she begins work on her new Gospel/Praise album, her church family at the Greencastle Christain Church has decided to walk along side her.    Join us for an Evening of Praise on Friday, February 22nd at 7pm.   Singer~songwriter, Natalie Coffin, will open the evening, with Lancaster to follow.  She'll be singing songs that will be featured on the album, and hopes that you will lift up your voice to make a joyful noise with her.  
  
  There is no charge for this event.   If they choose, attendees will be able to reserve their copy of the CD and give a love offering that evening, 100% of which will be used to contribute to the expenses of creating the finished album.  
  
  Bobbie will be giving this album back to the church and the money raised will be given to fund Adam & Jennifer Hayes and their family, as they leave all they know to follow God's calling to care for the orphaned children at The Fold, in South Africa.  
  
  If you cannot attend, and would like to make a financial contribution toward this album, please feel free to send a check of any amount to 
  The Greencastle Christian Church
  c/o The Praise Project
  602 Primrose Ct
  Greencastle, IN
  46135
  
  Please pray with us, that these songs will be used mightily by God, to reach hearts and extend His love and blessings around the world.

   What a humbling blessing it was to get this news! We are so excited and encouraged by this project and can't wait to see what God has in store for Bobbie as she follows His plan for her life!

Hope to see you Friday!!!

Love, Jen

Valentine's Day / Moving date / Trivia Night!!!

   We had a wonderful Christmas and hope that all of you dear readers did as well! We spent A LOT of time with family and with friends and made memories that will last and last!

   December was a busy month as Adam and I spent the first week of the month in Texas for our Commission To Every Nation (CTEN) orientation. 

Here we are with Rick and Jana Malm (Rick is the founder of CTEN) and Jack and Carol Rothenflue (Jack is the Director of CTEN). We had a wonderful time getting to know more about this wonderful organization that we are a part of and making new friends who are or will be living all around the globe!

   The kids and I decided to celebrate Jesus' birth by performing 25 Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. We got behind since I was gone the first week, so we had to do multiples some days, but we had a really good time putting smiles on people's faces and spreading Christmas cheer!

We taped quarters on gumball machines with a special RACK note.

   We visited the hospital and asked to be directed to the room of someone who could use some cheer. The nurse pointed us to the room of an elderly lady who was terminally ill. We took her some balloons, and a few treats. We visited with her for a bit and she told us about her grandkids and told us that this was her last Christmas. Before we left I asked if we could pray for her and if she had any special prayer requests, then I asked the kids if either of them would like to pray and Ethan immediately said yes. I was so proud of him! He has such a wonderful heart. We performed many other RACKs but this was one of the most touching!

   

   

   My Christmas gift from Adam this year was so very wonderful. He knew that I needed a break and that I am going to miss going to hockey games (not that we get to go too terribly often though) once we are in Africa, where hockey means field hockey. So not the same thing.... Anyway, he made all of the plans and arrangements and took me to St. Louis for a St. Louis Blues game last month. We were able to spend one night with Micky Prince's mom (Micky and her husband Paul founded The Fold Children's Home) and meet some more of her family who live in the St. Louis area also. We had a great time watching the Blues beat the Redwings and got to just relax at a beautiful inn for a couple of nights. It was exactly what I needed after a busy and stressful December and we really enjoyed our time together.

   On Sunday, January 27th our pastor announced Faith Promise 2013 to our church family at Greencastle Christian Church. The 2013 Faith Promise campaign is a way for everyone to get involved in the amazing things that God is doing at The Fold in South Africa by helping us to get to the field and provide prayer and  financial support for us each month. We are so very excited about GCC's involvement in this journey. It is not only a calling for Adam and I and the kids, but for our entire church body to be active in reaching the world with the Good News. 

   Our goal is be ready to move to South Africa in July! As long as we have our support raised we will be ready to go! Thank you to all of you who have been giving to our one time support needs or signing up as monthly giving partners! We appreciate your gifts!!! We are so very excited and missing everyone there so much! We are also so thankful for the time that we have now to spend with loved ones before we go. It is tricky to balance time preparing for the move, fundraising, homeschooling, normal busyness and special time with friends and family. However, we LOVE to share about The Fold! If you, or ANYONE that you know would like to hear more about our part in joining The Fold, please let us know. We would LOVE to share with you! Please be in prayer for us as we tackle all that comes along with this adventure! 

   We have several events planned over the next few months. Here is a bit about one that is coming up soon!

We would love to have YOU there! Please contact us if you have any questions!

                   Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! 

Love, Jen

P.S.

Piet, one of the boys at The Fold, just celebrated his 13th birthday with a wonderful cake made by Mama Fatima! Isn't it cute? In fact, isn't he?!