These stylish and super comfortable Tshirts are a great addition to any wardrobe! Whether you need a shirt to sport on the mission field, or support someone who’s going -- maybe you just want to support Visiting Orphans -- purchasing one of these shirts at 50% off is the perfect way to show you care!!
Women’s Vintage T:
Next Level brand women's vintage t-shirt. Female cut - you should order 1 size up from what you wear in a unisex shirt.
This stylish and comfortable charcoal Next Level brand shirt is designed for comfort. It has a double-needle sleeve and a taped neck and shoulders for long-lasting style. Unisex regular fit.
During our 12 Days of Features, we want to bring people's stories to life, to show how one trip has impacted them. Some people go, are radically changed, and continue to change the lives of those around them…These are their stories.
An Artist Experience
Kassie & Ben
KASSIE:
I quit my full time job in April of 2012 and started singing
full time.I was also looking for
something in my life that I hadn’t found yet.My husband, Ben, had heard about “Visiting Orphans” from Amanda (who
works there) and he brought it up to me and I was interested. It all worked out
that I went to Rwanda with a team in May of 2012. The trip opened my eyes to a
previously unseen world.I’ve always
loved kids, but I never knew that this trip and these orphans would touch me so
fiercely.And one child in particular
stole my heart, and her name is Kevine.She is 10 years old and lives at Noel Orphanage in Gisenyi, Rwanda.Kevine is beautiful, quiet and shy, and can
be sassy when she doesn’t get her way.She is not one to go out of her way to beg for your attention, but when
she does get your friendship, she will be loyal to you. I wanted to go back
everyday just to see her.It was an
unexplainable connection between us.We
stayed in Rwanda for 2 weeks and the trip changed my ways of thinking and
opened my eyes.Everything on this trip
was amazing, but the thing that was missing was that my husband was not with
me.
BEN:
I really wanted Kassie to go on this May Rwanda trip because
I knew that it would be so meaningful to her.And when she came back, she was in
love with Rwanda and it’s culture and the orphans over there (especially Kevine).She was so in love that she had to go back, and soon!So we looked into the next Rwanda trip in
November 2012.We both signed up and
went to Rwanda in November (the first time for me).
It was great to be able to go on this trip with my wife, we
shared experiences that could not possibly have been articulated with
words.While at Noel Orphanage, Kassie
got to see Kevine again (which she could
not wait for), and Kevine and Kassie were together all the time after
that.It just so happened that Kevine’s
sister, Muhoza, was also there this time and we met her for the first
time.And this is who I fell in love
with.Muhoza is outgoing and loves to
dance, and waves her hands pretending to conduct her imaginary orchestra.She stole my heart, and Kevine stole Kassie’s
heart, and I think it providential that we fell in love with sisters.
Since our trip, I’ve noticed things about my life and about
general human attitudes that disgust me.I’ve noticed how so many people’s lives and actions (including my own)
are driven by the desire for success and money.When did a green piece of paper become so important in the grand scheme
of things?And why do we feel we have to
live for our own selfish successes?There is something so beautiful and right about living for something
beyond ourselves!And this is what I
want to do.This is how I want to
approach our music career.I want my
talents and successes to cause a greater good…to cause people to be aware of
orphans in need, to cause people to live out a true Christian life involving
pure acts of religion (James 1:27), to cause people to see their need for
redemption by our Creator.
Please check out our website at www.KassieMusic.com to
listen to the music, read the blog, and check out pictures of our trip to
Rwanda.
And another artist experience:
Abner & Amanda Ramirez, of the duo Johnnyswim, joined Visiting Orphans on our first ever India trip in 2011. The video below features footage from that trip and the amazing song Hallelujah, written exclusively for VO, by this talented couple.
Hallelujah
as performed by JOHNNYSWIM
featuring Tulsi
DOWNLOAD HERE!
for each download on iTunes, 100% of the proceeds go to Visiting Orphans
Download your copy today!!
Visiting Orphans partners with ministries in Uganda and Ethiopia to help provide a sustainable income to widows and orphans by the purchase of these beautiful beaded necklaces.
Mission Ethiopia: Empowering the Change. Impacting the Fatherless.
Empowers individuals by providing a sustainable job to support themselves and their families with the fruit of that labor. By purchasing this product, you have helped to restore dignity by providing a hand-up instead of a handout.
Acacia Collection:
Bringing hope to widows and orphans in Uganda by providing a sustainable income.
During our 12 Days of Features, we want to bring people's stories to life, to show how one trip has impacted them. Some people go, are radically changed, and continue to change the lives of those around them…These are their stories.
Behind the Scenes
from a VO Staff ~ Julie Richards
Sometimes it feels like God works in puzzles. When we first
step out, we so rarely have a clue what the fuller picture will be.If we could only imagine how purposeful God
is, how intentional, how incredible are His connections and intricacies.I think we’d be more apt to trust Him and respond
with willingness. Courage would trump our fears.
My first Visiting Orphans trip goes back to the very
beginning when we had just completed our adoption in 2005.America World Adoption Association was
offering a mission trip to my daughter’s orphanage. It was only four months
after we had gotten home from China, but I had read about the importance of
finding out all we can about our daughter’s heritage and upbringing.This would be a perfect opportunity, even if
it was hard to leave her so soon.
You know you can have your heart tugged, despite everything
not being easy and all figured out.This
is a key place we could miss out on something God has for us. We can all make
excuses about the timing – that maybe next year would be better, or my kids are
too young, or the finances are too tight, or it is hard to ask for help.We had just had tremendous outpouring of
generosity for our adoption – how could I ask for more financial support
now?God had even provided for my whole
family to go to China to bring our daughter home!
I let the urging of my heart and the prompting of God to
assuage the doubts and uncertainties.I
didn’t have all the puzzle pieces figured out, but I sensed the compelling to
go forward.
I didn’t know then that her orphanage would later be flooded
and destroyed.When I said yes, it was
the last chance to be in the very place she spent her first year with the same
nannies and helpers.I didn’t know then
that the vision would catch on, and that my church would ask me to lead another
trip back to China.I didn’t know then
that I would keep going back to help serve in Chinese orphanages and lead more
than sixty people over the years to come with me.I didn’t know then that this would become
part of my life calling to reach out to the hurting and forgotten, to bring
light and hope and love to orphaned souls.It has grown.It’s a bigger
picture now, a fuller calling, and a brighter and clearer vision.
“taking the next step”
I am convinced now more than ever that those first little
steps of obedience have life-changing significance.My life and my family have changed.We have a forever place in our hearts for the
orphan and for missions.It is an
ultimate priority to stay connected to that vision.I believe it is part of why God put me here
on this earth.It has taken years of one
day at a time, following His lead.In
the past year, God has opened two incredible opportunities for me that coincide
with my calling.
The first is the honor
and privilege of working with the Visiting Orphans staff, where I have the joy
of working with others who are passionate about orphans and missions too. I get
to encourage the hearts of those who will trust God and travel clear across the
world to be His hands and His feet. I’ve also begun studies in graduate school,
where I can go deeper to nurture and facilitate the healing of hurting
hearts.Who would have dreamed? I can
live out this calling of connecting families to adoption and support their
journey. I can encourage others to step out in faith and trust God, that He has
something more for them.This mission
trip you are considering going on, just might be the classroom where He
fashions your faith a bit deeper.
It can
lead to something more.
Little by
little, transformed lives.Trust His
process.Enjoy the journey as He unfolds
it, one day at a time.
For today, He
just may be asking you to step out in faith and say YES.
During our 12 Days of Features, we want to bring people's stories to life, to show how one trip has impacted them. Some people go, are radically changed, and continue to change the lives of those around them…These are their stories.
Jack’s Walk for Water.
Jack was born looking like a miniature version of a
grown up. Little man. That's who he has been from the very
beginning, and his personality follows that moniker perfectly. As a young
child, Jack was always more reserved. He was cautious about interactions with
others. He liked being alone instead of a big crowd. He played it safe.Even now he still does, but he has found
something that overwhelms his tendencies- something he can't keep quiet about.
From the time he could talk, animals have been
Jack's passion. Going to the zoo with him is like having a mini Jack
Hanna as your guide. He can literally play for hours, building zoos and
arranging the animals as he deems appropriate. What is even more
wonderful is his recognition of God's creativity and skill in creating each and
every one. So when his father and I told him we were going to Africa on a
mission trip with VO in 2010, you can imagine his excitement. It may have
started with wanting to hear about every lion, elephant and bat we saw (or
didn't), but God was definitely planting a seed.
As soon as we announce our plans to lead a trip in
2012, he declared that he would be on the team. God's provision for
Jack's funds for his trip were mind-blowing. It was such a blessing as a
mom to see people talk to him and feel his heart toward going on the trip.
He was his normal calm self through the whole time, never once doubting
if he would indeed raise the needed money. But his smiles when he
received money were a glimpse of what was yet to come. Our time in Africa
was, as expected, life-altering. Seeing the ministries from the eyes and
perspective of a 10 yr old brought things into focus that as a grown up,
standing tall above a sea of boisterous children, I would never have seen.
He was engulfed. Several times it overwhelmed him- mentally and
physically. But he kept trucking. And then we went to Mazzi.
Mazzi is an isolated village in the Nakasongola
District of Uganda that is served by Ekubo Ministries. It is a dark place, full
of witchcraft and needs greater than most of us could imagine. There is a
school of a few hundred children there that we visited and after they sang
welcomes to us, we toured the school and were told we would be fetching their
water for their lunch. Two miles down a path we came to the watering
hole- a muddy spring. When we returned to the school, Jack looked at us
and said, "We need to build them a well." I wish I could tell
you I heard angels sing or felt a prophetic confirmation, but really I think it
was more like a "Aw, that's nice, honey," comment.I still had no idea what was in the works.
When we returned home, Jack didn't seem to be as
affected as we were accustomed to being back in the 1st World. A part of
me wondered if he had really gotten it. Were the naysayers right, was it
too deep for a 9 yr old to "get"? Never being talkative,
getting him to share about his experience was met with one word responses.
But one day I asked him what he wanted to do to continue to serve the
people we met in Africa and without hesitation he replied, "We need to
build Mazzi a well." I told him it would cost $8000.He looked me right in the eyes and with a
playful lilt in his voice, said, "okay!”
And that was it. Jack's Walk for Water was
born. Our family followed his lead and all of us adopted a little bit of
"Africa life" as we walked a mile each day to collect our water.
We shared Jack's endeavor via social media, and the local print and
television media did stories about him. And all through it, Jack was
still Jack. His pure joy and excitement with every donation was beautiful
to watch.
But I have a confession. I never thought he
would fully fund a well.I thought it
would be a great start and maybe be something others could give to over the
next year. God humbled me, though, because at the end of the week $8,400
had been donated.
On October 17, the village of Mazzi, along with the
leaders of Ekubo Ministries and a team from Visiting Orphans, inaugurated and
blessed the opening of Jack's well. Fresh, clean water is now being
pumped from deep in the earth and the school children and other villagers have
one less worry. To date, over $14,000 has been given toward Jack's Walk
for Water, and the second well is only $1,300 from being fully funded.
Jack recently told the Awana sparks at our church
that he is going to raise the funds to build 4 wells. He literally said,
" I figure, if I can raise money for 2, I can do 2 more, because they
really need them." Pretty simple, huh? Jack went on a trip,
saw a need and trusted that God could use him to do something about it.
He never worried about being young, or anything else. It reminds me of
the verse the kids all learned at VBS a few summers ago, 1 Timothy 4:12, "Don’t
let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in
faith and in purity."
I feel like it's important to note that Jack is FAR from a perfect
child. He is pouty and sensitive and leaves his shoes all over the house.
But he was willing. He knew he would probably have to give
something up. But he has seen that with God on your side, it is ALWAYS
worth it. You can read more about The Walk on our Facebook Page HERE! ~Jack Chlebanowski and Clan
