Origami & Ballerinas

Oh goodness, I don't know where to begin!

  Maddie has been the one to keep this updated.  We wrote one together, but I have yet to write a full blog post about what we've been doing since being here.  So here it goes!

  Thursday marked 2 weeks of being here, today marks the beginning of the 2 weeks that we have left.  Which makes me sad and I'm praying it goes by as slowly as possible!!  I think we've already said this, but it feels like we have been here for a long time.  This place feels like home.  I'm so in love with Brazil, with the girls at Betania and with everyone at Shores of Grace and all of the work they're doing.  I've absolutely loved getting to hang out with the Billman's and their kiddos.  I think that's why it feels like home, because they feel just like family to me and I have 7 little siblings to play with!

  I feel like our blog posts are and will be somewhat repetitive, talking about the girls struggles and praising their improvements and accomplishments and comparing it to the Father's love for us.  But it is so true and, for us, it creates this beautiful hands on parallel.  It is something we get to see and experience every day that we're here.  I guess we knew what we were gonna see, we were "prepared".  I guess I just didn't realize how eye opening it would be.  I'm experiencing love on such a deeper level.  Giving and receiving.
  It's not my place to share with you their life stories.  But they all have come from a place of verbal, physical and or sexual abuse.  From ages 5-15 these girls have all been through something horribly dark and disgusting.  Something that no one should ever have to go through.  As I look into their lives, my own life and the lives of my sisters who are the same ages, my heart breaks for them.  There have been several nights here that I lay in bed praying for them and crying for them.  The big sister in me wants to take away all of the hurt and the pain.



  Besides being at Betania from day to day, going to street church on Tuesday nights has been really eye opening too.  I love that everyone there recognizes the Shores of Grace team!  They're not some church group that drops off some food and leaves and then maybe shows up the next week.  They are the ones who sit down and color with the kids and paint the nails of the women and girls that are there. The smell of glue is pretty strong.  A majority of them sniff it.  Some people are so completely high at times that they just sort of look right past you.  You can't help but wonder what sort of hurt they have been through that puts them there.
  When you sing or pray the words "God, break my heart for what breaks yours.  Open up my eyes to the things unseen.  Show me how to love like you have loved me" You better get ready for what it really means.  I've only seen and felt a fraction of it here.  It's incredible.
  One night - a while ago, way before Maddie and I showed up - Nic had a vision and a word from the Lord and He told Nic that the holes in his hands were big enough to swallow all the hurt on these streets.  In the vision, Jesus held up his hand and Nic looked through the nail scars and saw doctors, lawyers, dancers, cures for diseases, etc.  When we look at people the way Jesus sees them and we change our perspective, we can see so much more beauty around us.

  There are two boys on the street, Mateus and Lucas, who know how to do origami.  Not like airplanes, it's like boats and birds and boxes and stuff.  They're 6 and 7 and have the cutest little laughs and smiles.  The first week we went was really slow so we pretty much just hung out with them the whole time.  This past week we had quite a few people join us from another church so there were several volunteers and it was a little crowded, but it was neat and Mateus recognized me and gave me a hug!
  Obviously, the language barrier stinks.  I understand what people are saying a little bit better, but I don't know how to reply so trying to find someone to translate every time somebody asks me a question gets a little annoying.  I'll learn in time.

Kaline, she ran away from the house.  Keep her in your prayers.

Painting nails

  

  
  So Thursday, I took my camera over to Betania.  (I'm trying to get as many non-iPhone photos of them and with them as possible haha!) 
  A friend of one of the girls that works for Shores came to visit and talk with the girls (I'll have to ask for more info on who she is then I'll update this!)  She shared her testimony and from the few words I know and from what someone translated for me, she struggled with drugs and sex.  Her father didn't like her and so she sought that attention else where.  Then God got a hold of her.  Now she's married and she is a ballerina!  
  After she shared with them, she played a game.  She had some encouraging words written on a piece of paper.  They each got one, then rolled it up real tiny and stuck it in a balloon.  Then they all threw the balloons up in the air and had to keep them off the ground.  After a few minuets, they each grabbed one and popped it and read whatever that piece of paper said.  Then she taught the girls some stretches and positions and then she danced for them.  It was so beautiful. I think it was really good for the girls to meet her and hear what she had to say!  It was so cute to see them all dancing around and trying to do some of the stretches.  
  And I got to show off my ballet skills.  I took classes for a few years forever ago and still remembered the basics and I'm still flexible enough to do the stretches haha.  I think they were impressed...

  

- Mallory

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-mntaylor
-littledisonmae

You can also check out the Shores Of Grace website to find out more about the mission here in Recife.

- http://shoresofgrace.org 

Maddie & More Maddie

My late night blog! 

I'm just going to get really vain and sappy here real fast. I have a great life. I love my life. I have a loving family and a boyfriend who support me in all that I do.  I have beautiful house, never had to go through anything that was  too hard to swallow, I have some amazing friends, a lovable pooch ( I miss my Tink. #foreveradogperson), and the list could go on and on. My life is good. I have a lot to be thankful for and a lot more to look forward to. 

But I have to admit I feel a little guilty for how good I've had it. Everyday some of the girls are looking through the pictures on my phone. Every time they slide to the next image they see more happiness. Happiness that they've never known. 

My Father has never beaten or raped me. I've never had to sell my body to survive. I have always had a house and don't know the first thing about living on the streets. I was able to grow up being a child. I did child-like things and didn't have to think about the unthinkable.  I've never sniffed glue to numb the pain. The pain from the beatings. Pain from hunger. Pain from vulgar words that have become my identity. The pain of being in this dark cycle forever.

I can't even wrap my mind around what these girls have lived through. The ages in the house range from 5-15 years old. I can't help but think about what I did during those years of my life. I was a kid. I did things kids do. Most people who knew me then know that I probably had on overalls that were accompanied by some sort of critter. I enjoyed being outdoors and didn't wear dresses until my mom made me. I had mostly guy friends cause I couldn't stand girl drama and glitter!

Little sister, Clara, on the left and me on the right. Overalls and worms! I was adorable! 

Me and the faithful Golden Retriever! Again, overalls!

(WARNING: boyfriend brag) My parents were never for dating at a young age. We had rules and, honestly, I was okay with them. I didn't want a relationship until I was ready for one. And then came Kyle. We met at a christian conference when a I was twelve. I was the girl who sat in the corner and doodled. Over the years we became best friends. I can't imagine how my life would be without him. He is apart of everything I do even though we have always been long-distance. He is really great. My family loves him and I love his family. He has always cherished me and has never taken advantage of me. The foundation of our relationship is God. No, we aren't perfect. I know, right? Shocker. We have our disagreements but we work through them. Our love is evident.

When the girls see a picture of him they get all giddy. Some of them will spout something off but I don't just want to agree cause I don't know what I'm saying yes to! haha. They make kissy noises and ooh and aw over him. I want so bad to just tell them what love looks like. 

I can't wait for the day when they see their true identity. When love isn't defined by some guy that just wants to have sex with them and doesn't want to pay. When their worth isn't a price tag for the next scumbag. The day when they realize that they are princesses and their prince is waiting for them. 

 There are a lot of deep wounds and memories scarred into their minds. Sharp edges and broken pieces to be smoothed and mended. They are diamonds in the rough. But all of that can be done. It may take a little or a long time. Be praying for healing and restoration for these sweet little hearts. 

Rafaela, Maddie, and Amanda.

-Amanda has been gone for a few days, keep her in your prayers! 

Love these gems!
-Rafaela, Thayanara, Tayana, Amanda, Ryssa, Me, and Ingrid. 

My heart aches for this one. She has run away three times since I've been here and this past time didn't go very well.  Be praying hard for her! She definitely has a sweet spot in my heart! 

Got the ogre under the bridge going. 

-Maddie 
Once again, we are posting pictures pretty often on our instagram profiles.  Go check us out! 

-littledisonmae

-mntaylor

You can also check out the Shores Of Grace website to find out more about the mission here in Recife.

- http://shoresofgrace.org 

Parks & Rainbows

Bom Dia!

I don't even know where to start with this post cause so much has happened in the past few days. 

Do this for me. Think of a middle school aged girl. Now add in all the drama and emotions that comes with that girl. Consider now, all the horrible things that have been done to her, then add the fact that she has never had to follow authority! Good? Do you have a mental idea of what that would be like? 
Now, multiply that by ten girls and put them all under one roof where they have to obey rules and follow certain guide lines.
It is very... hectic. 

Yet it is still beautiful. In the midst of all the fighting and craziness there is still improvement. Whether that is a smile instead of a frown or a simple "I'm sorry!" or "Thank you!" 

You can't expect 10 girls to completely change in three weeks! It's not an overnight change, it's not a three week change, it's not a 3 month change.  Heck, it may take some of them 3 years to change!  I'm not saying that God can't change them in less time.  He totally could!  But this whole thing is a process and we're getting to watch the very early, beginning stages of it all. It is unrealistic to think it'll be all glitter and rainbows and butterflies when the worst of the worst has happened in their lives. But every night that they are here, though bed time is usually a struggle and there is always some degree of "fighting", it's another night that they are not on the streets selling their bodies and placing their identity and their value in drugs and boys.  
Every fight, every temper tantrum, and every burst of outrage is just another piece and another beautiful chapter to every single one of their testimonies.  

Being here, as we have expressed multiple times, it is so incredibly humbling! Even though we've been called "Babuina" more times than we can count! Haha I don't know that we have ever been called a baboon before but hey, there is a first time for everything! 

Mama Rachael with her girls.

We took all the girls to the park Friday to get them out of the house and run off some energy! Which by the way America needs to up their parks cause this was freakin' awesome! Coolest. Park. Ever. Hands down! Granted it was right next to the beach and stuff, but, whatever. Anyways, one of the little girls accidentally hurt the other and she said "desculpe(sorry)" without anyone telling her she 
had to! That is something to celebrate! 

           

We absolutely enjoyed seeing all of them run around and being kids, having fun and laughing a lot. Shoot, we totally felt like kids too!

Seriously, she's the cutest thing ever!

When we first got there, Maddie and I ran over to the swings with the 3 youngest girls. I took out my camera to grab a few shots real quick, and not 5 minutes later they're running off again.  so I start chasing after them when I hear "Mallory! Mallory, come here real quick!" And I look back and Maddie is pushing Rapha in the swing!  Y'all, Rapha is the cutest, most hilarious 12 year old girl and I wish everyone could meet her and give her a hug.  They call her the "big baby" and she keeps everyone at the house laughing.  So to look back and see Maddie pushing her in the swing was too cute. It doesn't help that she has a t-shirt with a teddy bear holding a fuzzy heart. I mean come on, you have to rub it!  




There was some sort of martial arts group that was practicing under a bridge/covering thing!  Some of the older girls walked over to watch and were talking to the instructor, and he asked if they would like to join them.  So everyone else in the class sat down while he showed the girls a few simple moves.  It was so cool to watch them laugh at themselves while trying to do what he showed them.  These are the kinds of moments that God sets up for these girls.  Moments to try things that they never would have been able to.

   

Yes, we are aware that we look like rough travelers. But it was such a beautiful view!
(& you can still kind of see the rainbow!)

We feel so at home here and we are loving every single moment of it!

- Mallory & Maddie






Once again, we are posting pictures pretty often on our instagram profiles.  Go check us out! 

-littledisonmae

-mntaylor

You can also check out the Shores Of Grace website to find out more about the mission here in Recife.

- http://shoresofgrace.org 

Unconditional & Conditional

Boa Tarde!

Love is the most beautiful thing that has ever been and that will ever be. It never fails. Knows no wrong. It is not easily angered. Keeps no record of wrong. Love is perfect! Pure beauty.

Our world has twisted the meaning of love and has made it conditional. Some how it became an over used word that is only temporary. Love has been bogged down by conditions and is used lightly. People fear love because it has been so tampered with that they don't understand what it really is.  

con•di•tion•al (kənˈdɪʃ ə nl) 

adj.

1. imposing, containing, subject to, or depending on a condition; not absolute

The definition of unconditional love is what the Father has for us. No matter how far we run or how much we screw up he still loves us. His love is unchanging and knows know limits or conditions. 

un·con·di·tion·al  (nkn-dsh-nl)

adj.

Without conditions or limitations; absolute

These girls have never known real, true love. They have only known the tampered with version of love. It is incredibly hard for them to trust or love because of what has been done to them. 

They have been beaten, bruised, scarred, taken advantage of, raped, verbally abused, and bogged down by so much darkness! 

It is absolutely heart breaking. 

All you want to do is embrace them and tell you how much you love them and how much the Father loves them. 

You can shower them with love and compliments but they don't believe you. They don't believe because all of their life they have been told different. You can tell they hunger for happiness and love but there is fear. Fear of change. Fear of being hurt and disappointed. They need love more than anything. 

The beautiful side to all of this is that God is working up something strong. We are his vessels. He is softening their calloused hearts bit by bit. His love is unfailing.

Yesterday Mallory and I went over the Bethany house to hang out with the girls before we left for street church. A fight started  (as it does often) between two of the younger girls. One of the older girls came over to break it up and gave a pretty good beat down on the one of them. 

Again, discipline is a completely different story because of what has been done to them. The concept of discipline out of love is so foreign.

Sweet Rafaela:)

I scooped her up and carried her to the kitchen. She was mad and hurting. She didn't want any kind of affection from me. I followed her as she ran up the stairs crying. Still not wanting me there she ran back down to the kitchen and sunk down in the corner. Head on her knees and whimpering. My heart was literally broken. 

I looked at her and said, (probably very poor Portuguese)"Are you okay?" She shook her head and cried. I sat there a few more minutes but still nothing. So I stood up and kissed her on the head. She looked up, with tears in her eyes, and said, "Tia!" 

She has the most amazing eyes. 

I almost started crying as I picked her up and squeezed her tight. She wouldn't let go. 

I walked around outside and kept telling her I loved her. I knew how to say "I delight in you." So I just sang it over her. 

Her grip never relented and she slowly fell asleep as we walked around. 

My arm went numb pretty fast but I didn't care. She was heavy but I didn't care. She was sweaty but I didn't care. I was what she needed and I wasn't going to let go. 

Luke and Johnny came to pick Mallory and I up for the streets so I took her inside and laid her on the couch. I sat there for a few minutes but every time I tried to move she would grab a fistful of my  shirt and not let go! 

I was so humbled and felt so much love for her. I told her again that I loved her and I had to go but I would be back tomorrow! 

She opened her eyes, smiled, and said "Tchau Tia!" 

My heart is still so heavy from that moment. She pushed me away and pushed me away and then finally realized I wasn't going to leave. I can't even begin to imagine what love the Father has for us. Words cannot even explain the love that he pours on us. Even when we reject him and reject him he just keeps pursuing us. 

He used me to be His love to this sweet child. 

I was used to bless her but truth is, she blessed me immensely! 

A little Holy Spirit switcheroo took place and I am so overwhelmed. 

Sure, it might have been just a small moment. But its the small things that build bigger things. 

Always love extravagantly and never pass up a moment to love someone. Make love known. Real, true love. 

-Maddie

 Mal and I are posting pictures pretty often on our instagrams. 

-littledisonmae
-mntaylor

You can also check out the Shores Of Grace website to find out more about the mission here in Recife.
- http://shoresofgrace.org 

The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread. ~Mother Teresa

Checkers & Perfume

Bom Dia!

First off, my heart is quite literally overwhelmed with love right now. Coming into this trip I know the gist of what I should expect, but what I didn't really realize is just how much love and joy I would have  for the girls. Despite the language barrier we have been able to connect and bond. Also, I would like to personally thank the person who created Google Translate! Without you I wouldn't have been able have a few meaningful conversations with a couple of meninas!

Yesterday I was watching Luke and Alison's kiddos while Mallory went to the store with them. We needed food (mostly fruit because its is heavenly here. Especially the papayas) and clean towels. Turns out using one towel, for two people, five days in a row, with the heat and humidity isn't that great and begins to smell funky. And by the way, I have never appreciated a clean towel more in my entire seventeen years of existence. Moving on. I had Elliot, Ada, and Leyton Billman up in my room at the base playing checkers and doing a floor puzzle while I cleaned the bathroom and straightened up. It was pretty impressive how much I was able to accomplish while they were playing games! (points for me!)

A couple of the girls came up to my room to take showers. From personal experience I know what its like to live in a big house when everyone needs a shower! It can be a long process so my bathroom was all clean and ready for them!

Thank you, Mrs. Martha for the Checkers! 

While the shower was being used, I played checkers with the other girls. My room usually had at least three girls in it. Thankfully they already knew how to play cause the wifi was acting up and Google translate wasn't available.  I'm not sure how I would explain how to play. haha.
I lost the first two games... So that put a dent in my competitiveness that every Taylor offspring is born with. But I will live.
We sat there on my floor and just laughed. The room had the feel as if we were having a deep conversation but it was just was just a game of checkers.
The last girl in there opened the bathroom door and there was an overwhelming aroma of my perfume.
 I immediately thought of the story at the house in Bethany (Matthew 26:1-16). When the woman anointed Jesus with a very expensive perfume and she was accused of being a criminal for waisting it.
And all though in my case, the story obviously isn't the same this is what was brought to my mind when she opened the door.
She had used like half the bottle (VERY strong perfume) but I looked at her, smiled, and gave her a big hug.
I didn't mind that had she used it. If it made her feel pretty and clean then I'm glad she did.
And on my end I was humbled and realized just how MUCH I have right at my finger tips. These girls don't have much to their name and really have nothing. No happy family, no loving daddy, house, food, love, pure happiness, options for clothes that are clean and fresh out of the dryer (We have to hang our clothes to dry here), even just the necessities in day-to-day life! I take so much for granted. Even just the way I was raised. It is a completely different world here.

I can't even fathom what they have lived through. I can't even begin to understand it.
My heart is burdened with so much love that it aches. Love is a beautiful, yet very hard emotion when one end doesn't understand that it isn't temporary. I pray that they'll begin to realize the unconditional love that is being poured out on them by all of the Shores team members and so many more.
I think it is a slight glimpse of what the Father must feel for us every time we screw up and don't feel worthy of love. Yet every single time his arms are wide open ready to embrace us and re-assure us of just how much love he has.

-Madison

p.s I loved all the muddy footprints left on my once clean bathroom floor. They came in dirty and left clean and I was more than glad to clean it again!

p.s.s Mal and I are keeping our Instagrams pretty updated with pictures so you can go on there to see them!
-littledisonmae
-mntaylor

You can also check out the Shores Of Grace website to find out more about the mission here in Recife.
- http://shoresofgrace.org 

Short & Sweet

I literally don't even know how to start this blog post! Haha.  There are so many little details and stories I'd love to share, but, it's 11:45 here and I really just want to take a quick shower and climb in bed.

So on Wednesday we ran around all day long getting last minute things together, saying our goodbyes, went to lunch with  mom, dad and the kids.  We said goodbye at Genghis Grill then dad took us to the airport from there.  

We got checked in alright, had Starbucks and a few more minutes with daddy, found our gate and boarded our first flight! It was so exciting until we sat down and the plane smelled like all bodily functions in one tiny space.  We got over it though (What else could we do right?)

 All of the traveling went smoothly, we slept as best as we could on our overnight flight to Brazil, but really who sleeps well on a plane unless you fly coach? And, It was like a dang meat locker or somebody wanted to play freeze out, I don't know! We had 2 girls who were very nice to talk to us before we all boarded the plane and one woman who helped us make sure we knew where to go and what to do once we got off.  We got our luggage, found Nic and Rachael and headed to the base house where we're staying!

Our days have all been pretty much the same, get up and shower and get ready, hang around the house for the morning and have quiet time and coffee.  Go over to Project Bethany (name of the rescue home) hang out with the girls for a while.  Thursday Luke and Alisan took us out to dinner and the store, Friday we had dinner at Nic & Rachael's, Saturday we went to the beach with the girls then had dinner with them.  Yesterday we had dinner at Nic & Rachael's again with Luke & Alisan and their kids and tonight we kind of snacked here and there :)  (incase you were wondering about our food schedule...)

It has been crazy! It feels like we have been here so much longer than 5 days (In a good way!!!)

I feel like I've already experienced so much.  I've learned a lot.  It's all the little things I see and hear and feel that by the end of this trip will just be one big lesson and I am anxious to see what it all looks like.

I'm in love with this place.  I feel so at home.  Where we're staying is so absolutely beautiful.  The girls are beautiful and I love them all.  Be praying for them.  Be praying for all the staff as it's a rough transition for everyone and it's definitely not easy.  

We so badly want to learn the language, and we will eventually.  So for now it'll just be a game of guessing between us and the girls when there's not someone around to translate :)  But we are learning in it!  Thank God for Google Translate!

Sorry this post is so thrown together and vague! I'll try to keep it updated, with more detail, as often as I can!

-Mallory

Oh, and at the store today, I found Snickers! I know thats not that big of a deal but I've been on this crazy Snickers craze for like 2 1/2 weeks so when I saw them I freaked out a bit :)
(Jesus totally cares about the little things you guys!)

Beginning & Now

  I'm sitting here at my kitchen counter drinking coffee, I'm posting stuff on Ebay for my mom and my family is getting ready to have all the men from the church out for a guys night, so we've been in cleaning mode for a few hours.  I keep grabbing hugs from Mark and Ben as the pass by me, with their cut off jean shorts and no shirt smelling like little boys smell after they've been playing outside for a while.  I'm watching the girls clean the kitchen, help with laundry and run in and out of the house bringing stuff in from our garden and now they're all getting ready to go out and swim or somethikng.
I'm taking it all in.


  In 48 hours, Maddie and I will board a plane to Miami and then from there we will go onto Recife, Brazil where we will spend 4 1/2 weeks staying with our dear friends Nic and Rachael Billman and working with their ministry Shores of Grace (www.shoresofgrace.org) to do our small part in helping defeat the giant that is human/sex trafficking but most importantly to just go love on people! :)
  Maddie and I have known Nic and Rachael and their kids for as long as I can remember.  We grew up under their ministry as the youth directors for The Gate.  We've always considered them family, always had a special bond and always looked up to them.  Their heart for Jesus and their heart for people is beautiful and it drives us and encourages us to love more. Over the past few years, God has been stirring up a burden in both of our hearts to work with the men, women and children stuck in human trafficking.  So, it's kind of been a dream of ours to visit them ever since they felt the call to move to Brazil and work with the men, women and children there.  It's finally here, and we couldn't be more excited to go see them!  Also, we got connected with Nic's brother, Luke and his wife Alisan and their kids (they were living 2.5 miles from our house!) and we got to visit and hang out with them a few times before they moved down there the first of July.  We can't wait see everyone again!
  It's the first time in Brazil for the both of us! (and definitely not the last!)


  We began planning this trip back in January I think.  We planned on going in May for 2 weeks, but air fare went up and we were looking at spending an extra $600-800 just for tickets.  And at that time we still didn't have Maddie's Passport or our Visas.  We felt that we would just be spending a bunch of extra money and didn't feel a peace about it.  So we skyped with Nic and Rachael, and asked if we could push it to August and asked if we could stay longer.

 God has just completely blown us away and blessed us with the finical aspect of it all.  We only had 2 fundraisers and a bake sale and then there were people who generously gave from their hearts in between the events.  We thank each and everyone of you.  Seriously, we love you all and we can't say it enough!

Before our first event, we were already given around $1600.

 - February 16 - Daddy Daughter Dance.  We raised a little over $1400
We didn't spend anything out of pocket, everything was donated.  We used decorations from our older sister Amanda's wedding and stuff that mom had saved from putting on Daddy Daughter Dances when we were younger.  Kroger donated like 9 dozen roses and cookies and cakes and stuff all left over from Valentines Day.  Mrs. Jill O'Brien, a wonderful lady at our church, adopted aunt, made some delicious goodies and brought those as well.  Maddie's boyfriend, Kyle, and his family came down from Missouri to help us set up and be apart of it too.  And of course our family, aunt & uncle & Grandparents and all of our friends donated their time to help us put this on and donated stuff for our silent auction.
We had a great turn out and I think each dad cried at least once, so I think it's safe to say it was a successful night :)

- June 15 - Coffee/Music Night.  We raised around $1200
Not a whole lot was spent on this fundraiser either.  Steve Lowe, a guy from church, donated all the coffee and again Mrs. Jill, Nadine Clifton, Grandmommy and Maddie made all the baked goods for the night.  Our friends, Hannah Peasall and Callie McKinney came out and graced us with their musical talent, Sarah and Kenan McGuffey were our designated baristas for the night (and the cutest that ever were) and then Luke and Alisan shared about the ministry and answered questions.


  We have also been blessed by all the prayers said over us!  We are loved by many and we thank you in advance for your continued prayers over us as we travel there, visit and do work, and travel back!
Our church family at Gateway Christian Center, my wonderful friends at Pneuma (my young adults group) and our new friends at One Stone church in Nashville.  Whether it's been in a group or 1-on-1 prayers, we definitely feel the love.
 The one prayer that was/is so special and meant the most though was last Sunday when our dad prayed over us.
  Little bit of a back story here,  We haven't really talked to dad about the trip a whole lot.  He helped us with plane tickets and helped us with visas.  He's been pretty busy with work, and we've been busy with other things and so we just haven't all sat down and really talked about it.
  So, Maddie and I were at the front of the church holding hands, surrounded by our siblings our parents and our whole church family, laying hands on us and praying special prayers for us.  Then my dad made his way in front of us with a little bottle of anointing oil and knelt down on the ground.  (I'm crying as I'm writing this)  He then anointed our feet, our hands, our hearts, our lips and our ears and sent us out with his blessing and all his love and the call that God has placed in both of our lives, knowing He is with always.  Every step of the way.  I can't even begin to imagine what my parents are going through, sending their 2 teenage daughters to a different country all by themselves where sex trafficking is a big issue.  Kind of a big deal! Their faith and their trust in God and his plan for us is definitely encouraging and definitely a blessing.  And we're so glad that God gave us to them ;)


 At this moment we still aren't completely packed, but if you know us, it's really not that big of a surprise!  We have 4 suitcases; 1 stuffed full of toys and goodies for the Bethany House and the staff, 1 for Nic and Rachael and family and 1 for Luke and Alisan and their family!  So now we just have to do all of our laundry and then neatly shove it into the last suitcase for us!!

I think this is a long enough post for now.  I won't bore you with all of the little details.  But, I will let everyone know we we get there and how the traveling went and I will keep you all updated over the next 4 1/2 weeks with pictures and stories and stuff!!

We love you all!!!

Mallory & Maddie