i'm not a fan of long wordy posts myself
so i apologize for this one...maybe i won't post for 5 days to redeem myself!
this weekend i had the last minute opportunity to
head over to the Created for Care conference
that was being held outside of Atlanta
& meet some amazing women.
jessica, the founder of
noonday was going to be there
& since she lives in texas
& since i think she's amazing
& since she said..."hey why don't drive up so we can meet"
i decided to clear my schedule
& take advantage of this opportunity.
the day was incredible for me.
while it was more like a glorified blind date,
the connections i made were priceless.
the opportunity to meet some women that i've admired from a distance
to see them
hug them
hear their stories
was overwhelming for me.
honestly.
jessica started noonday sorta on a fluke by raising funds for her own
adoption of jack from Rwanda.
her desire to create a pathway for people in poverty
her heart for the world
& her spunky personality
make her so easy to love
and want to get on board with whatever she's doing.
also at the conference was trevor's mom,
susan.
(trevor is savannah's sweetheart)
ok, susan is amazing ( & i honestly try not to overuse that word)
let me share this little bio with you~
"Dr.
Hillis has been a believer for 38 years, married to a godly servant for
35, a mother for 26, a US government federal official for 20, and a
university professor for 10 years. She is the mother of 11 children, 8
of whom were adopted from Russia after the tragic death of her
first-born son on the day before his tenth birthday. It is her deep joy
and privilege to have received untold personal blessings from the living
God. She has worked and ministered in countries in South America,
Africa, and Eastern Europe. She participates widely as an invited
speaker at scientific and Christian conferences. She has published more
than 80 articles in scientific medical journals and is considered one of
the leading infectious diseases experts on the HIV risk among
vulnerable youth around the world. Dr. Hillis is a recent recipient of
the Outstanding Service Medal as a Captain in the U.S. Public Health
Service.
During
her married life she has worn many hats, including stay-at-home mom,
graduate student, missionary, government official, nurse, scientist, and
university professor. She has experienced infertility, caring for a son
with a fatal heart condition, loss of her son through a fatal biking
accident, and 8 international adoptions of older children from Russian
orphanages. She, her husband, and their 10 children recently lost their
home in the 2009 Atlanta floods, which were declared a presidential
disaster.
Her experience suggests that God’s goodness is bigger than all the storms of life."
seriously. i love that woman & have immense respect for who she is,not only on paper
but who she is in her every day.
i had only sat down with jessica for a couple minutes
when susan walks up with a friend
she wants to introduce me to.
the friend was emily vogeltanz.
was the brain child of emily & her hubby.
ok stop right there & let me tell you...
besides being blown away because
i'm now in the presence of not one, not two, but three women
who truly are world changers
the timing of this was such a sweet gift from the Lord.
i shared about how logistically the volunteer gig for those several days turned out
to be something i couldn't quite pull off.
how defeated i felt because i couldn't be there
how disappointed i was
i was blown away not only by the event itself
but by the passion of this generation of college kids
who truly do want to stop human trafficking & end slavery on their watch.
i asked the lord to show me how to do something in my own little world,
a way to connect and a way to touch others.
during that time is when i began to look at the Noonday site
and began to pray about coming on board with them.
when susan walked up with emily
the one who planned much of the campaign with passion
during the exact time i was meeting jessica
the founder of the company i had since joined,
it was one of those moments
where i felt the Lord saying
see...you're right where i wanted you all along.
it was like the two moments
the two biggies in my heart
occurring at the same time.
confirmation.
ya'll it was all i could do to hold it together...
all day i just kept smiling & thinking
thank you jesus for being the giver of all good things
& for bringing this all together.
the timing was just a super sweet gift.
the other super cool part about that connection
is savannah would love to intern with passion
& so many cool connections are already in the works
but this was an awesome one.
ok...
i was also able to meet
gwen
gwen is one of the founders of 147 million orphans.
have you heard about
katie?
well, that's the group 147 million orphans.
the first time i stumbled upon them i sat and read all their blogs
& fell in love with them
& was so inspired by them.
gwen & suzanne were at the conference this weekend
& i loved meeting gwen.
you must read their stories ya'll.
you must.
when i started my photography busines
i decided to support either in donation or purchase of product from companies
like 147 & Noonday.
to meet both of the women from those companies
was such a gift for me!
full circle if you will.
these are all real women
real women
changing the world we live in,
called by the lord to make a difference in so many lives.
while i probably have them all on a pedestal in my heart
i know we're sisters in the lord.
i can pray with & for each of these women,
the lives they touch & the ministries they represent.
what an honor.
gwen , jessica, wynne, krista, susan & emily...what an honor!!
cowboy boots or TOMS
jeans & funky jewelry
or
pearls & trousers
gentle spirits & loud and spunky
blond or ginger
Tennessee accents or Texas drawl
each an adoptive mom
each with a huge territory of influence
each with a contagious passion
for the things that bring glory to Him
each
making a difference.
what a privilege to call each one, friend
~~
"i see a generation
rising up to take their place
with selfless faith.
i see a near revival
stirring as we pray and seek.
we're on our knees"
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